WWW.SPORTINGKC.COM/MEDIA-GUIDE CURRENT SPORTING KC INTERNATIONAL LEADERS
SPORTING KANSAS CITY (0) vs. C.F. MONTERREY (5)
Player POS GP GS MIN Krisztian Nemeth F 4 4 324 Gerso Fernandes F 5 3 348 Ilie Sanchez M 5 5 450 Seth Sinovic D 15 14 1296 Roger Espinoza M 8 7 670 Graham Zusi D 12 12 1050 Johnny Russell F 5 4 332 Botond Barath D 2 2 180 Matt Besler D 15 15 1335 Tim Melia GK 5 5 450 Felipe Gutierrez M 4 4 323 Andreu Fontas D 3 3 270 Daniel Salloi F 4 2 126 Erik Hurtado F 3 1 115 Kelyn Rowe M 4 1 110 Yohan Croizet M 2 1 108 Jimmy Medranda D 2 1 96 Rodney Wallace D 2 1 91 Jaylin Lindsey D 1 1 90 Adrian Zendejas GK 1 1 90 Gianluca Busio M 2 0 26 Eric Dick GK 0 0 0 Tyler Freeman F 0 0 0 Nicolas Hasler D 0 0 0 Abdul Rwatubyaye D 0 0 0 Graham Smith D 0 0 0 Wan Kuzain M 0 0 0 Gedion Zelalem M 0 0 0
Thursday, April 11, 2019 Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. CT Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, KS) Champions League Semifinal Leg Two Sporting Kansas City (CCL) 3-2-0 (2-0-0 home; 1-2-0 away) Beat CA Independiente 4-2 in Quarterfinal C.F. Monterrey (CCL) 3-1-1 (3-0-0 home; 0-1-1 away) Beat Atlanta United FC 3-1 in Quarterfinal
Live Stream: Yahoo Sports Spanish TV: Univision Deportes English Radio: Sports Radio 810 WHB Spanish Radio: ESPN Deportes 1480 AM Referee: Assistant ref: Assistant ref: 4th official:
Joel Aguilar Juan Francisco Zumba Juan Carlos Mora Said Martinez
SPORTING KANSAS CITY ROSTER
No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 29 75 94
Pos. GK DEF DEF DEF DEF MID FWD DEF FWD MID MID FWD MID DEF DEF DEF MID GK FWD FWD MID DEF FWD MID DEF GK MID MID
Name Adrian Zendejas Botond Barath Abdul Rwatubyaye Andreu Fontas Matt Besler Ilie Sanchez Johnny Russell Graham Zusi Krisztian Nemeth Yohan Croizet Kelyn Rowe Gerso Fernandes Gianluca Busio Nicolas Hasler Seth Sinovic Graham Smith Roger Espinoza Eric Dick Erik Hurtado Daniel Salloi Felipe Gutierrez Rodney Wallace Tyler Freeman Gedion Zelalem Jaylin Lindsey Tim Melia Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal Jimmy Medranda
Pronunciation zen-DAY-haas BOH-tond buh-RAT GWAH-too-BYAH-yay ahn-DRAY-oo BEEZ-ler ILL-ee-eh
gram ZOO-see KRIS-tee-ON NEY-muth CRAH-zay KELL-in JER-soh jahn-LUKA BOO-see-oh HAZZ-ler sin-OH-vick her-TAH-doh shallow-EE feh-LEE-pay
Goalkeeper Stats Player Tim Melia Adrian Zendejas Eric Dick
GEH-dee-on zeh-LAH-lem MEE-lia wahn koo-ZANE wahn kuh-MAHL muh-DRAHN-dah
GP 11 4 8 4 7 9 6 5 3 4 5 5 11 8 2 9 9 12 4 12 7 6 4 5 1 15 4 3
G 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
GAMES PLAYED Player 1. Matt Besler* 1. Seth Sinovic* 3. Kerry Zavagnin 4. Nick Garcia 4. Francisco Gomez 4. Matt McKeon 4. Graham Zusi* 8. Chris Brown 8. Mike Burns 10. Tony Meola GAMES STARTED Player 1. Matt Besler* 2. Seth Sinovic* 3. Kerry Zavagnin 4. Nick Garcia 4. Graham Zusi* 6. Mike Burns 7. Tony Meola SHUTOUTS Player 1. Eric Kronberg 2. Tim Melia 2. Tony Meola 4. Kevin Hartman 4. Bo Oshoniyi
GS 5 1 0
MIN 450 90 0
GA 7 2 0
GAA SO REC 1.40 3 3-2-0 2.00 0 0-1-0 0.00 0 0-0-0
Player GP Competition Participation Felipe Gutierrez 26 Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Seth Sinovic 19 Superliga, Concacaf Champions League Nicolas Hasler 16 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Matt Besler 15 SuperLiga, Concacaf Champions League Andreu Fontas 14 UEFA Champions League, Europa League, FIFA Club World Cup, Concacaf Champions League Rodney Wallace 14 Concacaf Champions League, Copa Sudamericana Graham Zusi 12 Concacaf Champions League Gerso Fernandes 11 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Abdul Rwatubyaye 10 CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup Roger Espinoza 9 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Johnny Russell 9 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Botond Barath 8 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Erik Hurtado 8 Concacaf Champions League Krisztian Nemeth 6 UEFA Europa League, Concacaf Champions League Tim Melia 5 Concacaf Champions League Ilie Sanchez 5 Concacaf Champions League Daniel Salloi 4 Concacaf Champions League Kelyn Rowe 4 Concacaf Champions League Yohan Croizet 3 Concacaf Champions League Gianluca Busio 2 Concacaf Champions League Jimmy Medranda 2 Concacaf Champions League Jaylin Lindsey 1 Concacaf Champions League Gedion Zelalem 1 UEFA Champions League Adrian Zendejas 1 Concacaf Champions League
GP 15 15 14 12 12 12 12 11 11 10 GS 15 14 13 12 12 11 10 GP 8 5 10 3 4
GP 5 1 0
CAREER INTERNATIONAL HISTORY
ALL-TIME SPORTING KC INTERNATIONAL LEADERS GOALS Player 1. Chris Brown 1. Krisztian Nemeth* 3. Roy Lassiter 3. Antonio Dovale 5. Claudio Bieler 5. Dom Dwyer 5. Kevin Ellis 5. Gerso Fernandes* 5. Onandi Lowe 5. Soony Saad 5. Ilie Sanchez* 12. Jose Burciaga 12. Mike Burns 12. Roger Espinoza* 12. Dario Gabbro 12. Benny Feilhaber 12. Gary Glasgow 12. Francisco Gomez 12. Connor Hallisey 12. Matt McKeon 12. Ike Opara 12. Jacob Peterson 12. Cameron Porter 12. Preki 12. Nansel Selbol 12. Seth Sinovic* 12. Carey Talley 12. Sal Zizzo
POS GK GK GK
G A 4 0 2 2 2 0 1 2 1 1 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SO 5 3 3 1 1 1
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes ALL-TIME INTERNATIONAL RESULTS
ALL-TIME CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNERS
Sporting KC International Record: 13-14-9 Home games: 8-4-5 (26 GF, 13 GA) Road games: 5-10-3 (22 GF, 39 GA) Date Score 2001 Copa Merconorte 08/01/2001 KC 1 vs Sporting Cristal 2 08/08/2001 KC 2 at Santos Laguna 4 08/29/2001 KC 3 at Barcelona SC 2 09/12/2001 KC 1 at Sporting Cristal 2 10/17/2001 KC 1 vs Barcelona SC 1 11/21/2001 KC 0 vs Santos Laguna 1
Result Location L L W L T L
Arrowhead Stadium Estadio Corona Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha San Martin de Porres Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium
2002 Champions Cup 03/03/2002 KC 1 at W Connection 0 03/16/2002 KC 2 vs W Connection 0 04/10/2002 KC 1 at Santos Laguna 2 04/24/2002 KC 2 vs Santos Laguna 0 08/07/2002 KC 1 at Monarcas Morelia 6 08/28/2002 KC 1 vs Monarcas Morelia 1
W W L W L T
Manny Ramjohn Stadium Arrowhead Stadium Estadio Corona Arrowhead Stadium Estadio Morelos Arrowhead Stadium
2005 Champions Cup 03/09/2005 KC 0 vs Saprissa 0 03/17/2005 KC 1 at Saprissa 2
T L
Arrowhead Stadium Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma
2009 SuperLiga 06/21/2009 KC 0 vs FC Atlas 0 06/24/2009 KC 1 at New England 0 06/28/2009 KC 1 vs Santos Laguna 3
T T L
Robert R. Hermann Stadium Gillette Stadium CommunityAmerica Ballpark
2013-14 Champions League 08/07/2013 KC 3 at Real Esteli 0 08/27/2013 KC 2 at CD Olimpia 0 09/17/2013 KC 1 vs Real Esteli 1 10/23/2013 KC 0 vs CD Olimpia 0 03/12/2014 KC 1 vs Cruz Azul 0 03/19/2014 KC 1 at Cruz Azul 5
W W T T W L
Estadio Independencia Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Children’s Mercy Park Children’s Mercy Park Children’s Mercy Park Estadio Azul
2014-15 Champions League 08/19/2014 KC 1 at Real Esteli 1 09/18/2014 KC 3 vs Saprissa 1 09/23/2014 KC 3 vs Real Esteli 0 10/23/2014 KC 0 at Saprissa 2
T W W L
Estadio Independencia Children’s Mercy Park Children’s Mercy Park Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma
2016-17 Champions League 08/16/2016 KC 2 at Central FC 2 08/23/2016 KC 0 at Vancouver 3 09/13/2016 KC 1 vs Vancouver 2 10/19/2016 KC 3 vs Central FC 1
T L L W
Ato Boldon Stadium BC Place Children’s Mercy Park Children’s Mercy Park
2019 Champions League 02/21/2019 KC 3 vs Toluca 0 02/28/2019 KC 2 at Toluca 0 03/06/2019 KC 1 at Independiente 2 03/14/2019 KC 3 vs Independiente 0 04/04/2019 KC 0 at Monterrey 5
W W L W L
Children’s Mercy Park Estadio Nemesio Diez Estadio Agustin Sanchez Children’s Mercy Park Estadio BBVA Bancomer
Champion
Runner-Up
2008-09
Atlante (MEX)
Cruz Azul (MEX)
2009-10
Pachuca (MEX)
Cruz Azul (MEX)
2-2
2010-11
Monterrey (MEX)
Real Salt Lake (USA)
3-2
2011-12
Monterrey (MEX)
Santos Laguna (MEX)
3-2
2012-13
Monterrey (MEX)
Santos Laguna (MEX)
4-2
2013-14
Cruz Azul (MEX)
Toluca (MEX)
1-1
2014-15
Club America (MEX)
Montreal Impact (CAN)
5-3
2015-16
Club America (MEX)
Tigres UANL (MEX)
4-1
2016-17
Pachuca (MEX)
Tigres UANL (MEX)
2-1
2018
Chivas Guadalajara (MEX) Toronto FC (CAN)
2-0
3-3 (4-2 pen.)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE INFORMATION
Sporting Kansas City qualified for the Champions League by winning the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 20, 2017. DRAW AND KNOCKOUT FORMAT Sporting KC was the only team from the North American Zone to be placed in Pot B for the Round of 16 draw, with Mexican side Deportivo Toluca selected as Sporting’s opponents in the opening round of the tournament. In the Champions League, the 16 teams play home-and-away, two-legged rounds. In the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, the away goals rule will be applied if the aggregate score is tied after the second leg. If still tied, a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winner. In the finals, the away goals rule will not be applied, and extra time will be played if the aggregate score is tied after the second leg. If the aggregate score is still tied after extra time, a penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winner.
North American Zone Central American Zone Carribbean Zone Concacaf League Sporting KC (USA) Saprissa (CRC) Atletico Pantoja (DOM) Herediano (CRC) Atlanta United (USA) Alianza (SLV) Houston Dynamo (USA) Guastatoya (GUA) New York Red Bulls (USA) Marathon (HON) Toronto FC (CAN) Independiente (PAN) Monterrey (MEX) Santos Laguna (MEX) Tigres UANL (MEX) Deportivo Toluca (MEX)
SCHEDULE Stage Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
First leg February 19–21, 2019 March 5–7, 2019 April 2–4, 2019 April 23–25, 2019
CHILDREN’S MERCY PARK BY THE NUMBERS
19,499
CONSECUTIVE MLS SELLOUTS Dating back to April 2012 (including postseason)
ALL-TIME AVERAGE MLS ATTENDANCE 146 MLS matches since 2011 (including postseason)
SPORTING KC MATCHES PLAYED 138 MLS regular season, 8 MLS postseason, 19 Open Cup, 9 CCL, 5 friendlies
PERCENT CAPACITY IN MLS MATCHES 145 MLS matches since 2011 Seating capacity: 18,467
179
Agg. Score
QUALIFICATION A total of 16 teams participate in the Concacaf Champions League: • North American Zone: 9 teams • Central American Zone: 5 teams • Caribbean Zone: 1 team • Winners of the Concacaf League
QUALIFIED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAMS
125
Year
105.6 2
Second leg February 26–28, 2019 March 12–14, 2019 April 9–11, 2019 April 30 – May 1, 2019
101
SPORTING KC MATCHES WON
not including penalty shootout victories in 2012 U.S. Open Cup and 2013 MLS Cup finals
317
SPORTING KC GOALS SCORED in 179 matches played at the stadium
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DESTINY ON THE LINE
DEBUTS ABOUND vs. FC CINCINNATI
Sporting Kansas City suffered a demoralizing 5-0 defeat in the Concacaf Champions League Semifinal First Leg against Liga MX powerhouse C.F. Monterrey last Thursday night at Estadio BBVA Bancomer. Sporting KC conceded five goals in any competition for the first time since August 2015 in the match, and now faces a steep uphill battle to turn the tide against Monterrey in the Second Leg at Children’s Mercy Park on Thrusday night.
During Sunday afternoon’s 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium, Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes handed out plenty of MLS and club debuts. Goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas and left back Rodney Wallace each earned their MLS debuts for Sporting, having already played in other competitions, while right back Nicolas Hasler and midfielder Gedion Zelalem each earned their first Sporting appearances in any competition after both signed with the club over the last month.
Sporting Kansas City is the only MLS team remaining in the tournament, with the league starting the competition with five participants. Toronto FC were eliminated by Independiente in a Round of 16 upset, before Atlanta United FC, the Houston Dynamo and the New York Red Bulls were all eliminated by Mexican opposition (C.F. Monterrey, Tigres UANL and Santos Laguna, respectively) in the Quarterfinals.
An interesting nugget from Sunday’s backline of Hasler, Andreu Fontas, Botond Barath and Wallace, saw the first time in team history that Sporting’s defense has no Americanborn players in an MLS regular season game. In total, Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes has now overseen six club debuts for the club so far in 2019: defenders Botond Barath, Nicolas Hasler and Rodney Wallace, midfielders Kelyn Rowe and Gedion Zelalem, and forward Erik Hurtado.
It’s the first time in club history that the side has reached the Semifinals of the current Concacaf Champions League format, though the side did advance to the Semifinals of the tournament’s precursor - the Concacaf Champions Cup. Sporting KC suffered defeat to Mexican side Monarcas Morelia 7-2 on aggregate in that Semifinal, with current Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes and assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin playing a role in that run.
That group of fresh faces has mixed in with the veteran core containing goalkeeper Tim Melia, defenders Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic and Graham Zusi, along with midfielders Ilie Sanchez and Roger Espinoza and forward Gerso Fernandes - all of whom have spent anywhere from three to 11 years with the club.
Monterrey are currently third in the Liga MX standings in the 2019 Clausura and advanced to the Semifinals of the Champions League by defeating Salvadorian side Alianza in the Round of 16 before dispatching reigning MLS Cup Champions Atlanta United FC in the Quarterfinals. Champions League Semifinals C.F. Monterrey vs. Sporting Kansas City Sporting Kansas City vs. C.F. Monterrey
Thursday, April 4 Thursday, April 11
SPORTING SUFFERS HEAVY DEFEAT IN MONTERREY
Sporting Kansas City suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to C.F. Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions League Semifinal First Leg last Thursday, April 4 at Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Mexico. The return leg is this Thursday, April 11 at Children’s Mercy Park as Sporting will look to produce a rousing and historic comeback.
5-0 8:00 p.m. CT
Despite a lively start from Sporting, the hosts took the lead when Rayados captain Dorlan Pabon slid a low finish beyond Tim Melia in the seventh minute. Seven minutes later, Monterrey doubled their advantage when Aviles Hurtado lashed home a rebound from close range to make the halftime score 2-0.
SCOUTING MONTERREY
Sporting Kansas City returns to Concacaf Champions League action this week when the side hosts C.F. Monterrey on Thursday, April 11 in the Second Leg of the Semifinals. Monterrey has been a perennial contender in the Champions League, winning three consecutive titles in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Monterrey piled it on in the second half, as a neat finish from Jesus Gallardo, a penalty from Nicolas Sanchez and Pabon netting his second of the game saw the hosts pull away from Sporting and plant one foot firmly in the Champions League Final.
Monterrey began the season as the in-form team in the Liga MX Clausura, going unbeaten in their opening 10 games of the competition and posting a 6-0-4 record to claim the top spot in the standings. However, their cooled off for a period as the side suffered their first loss of the Clausura season against Club Tijuana on March 16 before returning to form with the 5-0 victory over Sporting KC, only to suffer a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Toluca in Liga MX action over the weekend - a team that Sporting KC dumped out of the Champions League by a 5-0 aggregate scoreline.
On the other side of the bracket, fellow Monterrey-based side Tigres UANL defeated Liga MX rivals Santos Laguna 3-0 in a dominant first leg following Enner Valencia’s brace and an Eduardo Vargas strike.
CONGESTION CHARGE
Sporting Kansas City has been racking up the miles on the legs of its squad in the early part of the 2019 season. Starting with the Feb. 21 match against Toluca in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16, the side has already played a seven-game stretch in the space of 24 days, and is in the midst of a five-game stretch in the space of 16 days.
Monterrey are led by star forward Rogelio Funes Mori, who spent time in the FC Dallas Academy setup as a youth player, who has eight goals and one assist in 11 appearances in Liga MX this year. The 28-year-old has also had stints at River Plate in Argentina and Benfica in Portugal earlier in his career.
Sporting KC is back in Champions League action this Thursday when the side hosts C.F. Monterrey at Children’s Mercy Park for the Second Leg of the Semifinal series. Sporting KC will then remain at home to face the New York Red Bulls in MLS regular-season play on Sunday, April 14, bringing an end to the five-game burst in 16 days as the side’s next match will be on Saturday, April 20 against the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium.
At the helm is former Uruguayan international Diego Alonso, who scored 114 goals in 325 games during a lengthy playing career, primarily in Spain. Alonso has been in charge of Monterrey since 2018 following a successful three-and-a-half year spell with Pachuca where he won the 2016-17 Champions League and the 2016 Clausura title.
When Sporting KC faced Toluca, Los Angeles FC and Independiente all on the road in the space of a week in late February/early March, it marked the third time in club history that the side has played three road games in the space of a week, and first time ever with three road games in a week with at least one outside of the country.
BUSIO CONTINUES RECORD SETTING
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gianluca Busio continued his record-setting ways by netting the side’s only goal in Sunday afternoon’s 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati away from home at Nippert Stadium. Busio pounced on a miscue from the Cincinnati backline to slide home a finish into an empty net from a tight angle in the 62nd minute to salvage a point for Sporting KC.
In the previous seven-game stretch, Sporting KC will have played in all four continental U.S. time zones: Central Time: Feb. 21 vs. Toluca, Feb. 28 at Toluca, March 10 vs. Philadelphia, March 14 vs. Independiente. Pacific Time: March 3 at LAFC. Eastern Time: March 6 at Independiente. Mountain Time: March 17 at Colorado Rapids.
Eight days after finding the back of the net in a 7-1 demolition of the Montreal Impact to become the youngest MLS goal scorer at Children’s Mercy Park, Busio struck again at Nippert Stadium to help his side extend its unbeaten run to four league matches. In doing so, Busio - at 16 years and 314 days - became the youngest player in MLS history to score in back-to-back regular season matches.
LINDSEY UNDERGOES MENISCUS SURGERY
On Tuesday, April 2, Sporting Kansas City announced that defender Jaylin Lindsey had undergone successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Lindsey, a 19-year-old Academy product, is expected to miss the next four to five months while recovering from the surgery.
Busio now has three goals and one assist after starting just three of 11 MLS appearances for the club, totaling up to just 367 minutes. In 2018, Busio burst onto the scene when he recorded the game-winning assist on Diego Rubio’s goal during his first MLS start in a 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on the road in early August, before tallying his first professional goal in a 4-1 road victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in mid October.
Lindsey enjoyed a breakout 2018 campaign with Sporting’s first team. The right back started nine of 10 first-team matches in all competitions, becoming the club’s youngest player to log 10 appearances in a season. He earned his first start of 2019 in the first leg of Sporting’s 4-2 aggregate win over Independiente in the CCL Quarterfinals.
Busio joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2016 and was signed as the club’s youngest ever player in August of 2017 at the age of 15 years and 89 days.
Lindsey has represented the U.S. at the U-14, U-15, U-17 and U-20 levels, most recently helping the U-20s to a 2-2 draw with France and a 2-1 win over Japan last month.
3
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes RECORD-SETTING 2018
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
PLAYOFF STREAK REACHES EIGHT SEASONS
Sporting Kansas City enjoyed a historic 2018 season that saw the club set new records in multiple attacking categories. Most notably, the club shattered the franchise’s all-time goalscoring record by tallying 65 goals in 34 games, eclipsing the 61 goals the then Kansas City Wizards tallied in their inaugural season in 1996.
In 2018, Sporting KC continued its impressive streak of postseason appearances, becoming just the sixth club in MLS history to make at least eight straight trips to the MLS Cup Playoffs, while Manager Peter Vermes is now just the third coach to lead the same team to eight straight playoff appearances. LONGEST MLS PLAYOFF STREAKS Club Seasons LA Galaxy 10 (1996-2005) Seattle Sounders FC 10 (2009-2018) *active New York Red Bulls 9 (2010-2018) *active Sporting KC 8 (2011-2018) *active LA Galaxy 8 (2009-2016) NE Revolution 8 (2002-2009) Real Salt Lake 7 (2008-2014)
As well as their overall goalscoring exploits, Sporting Kansas City also set new club records in five other offensive categories: Road Goals (31), Goal Difference (+25), Assists (69), Shots (583) and Corner Kicks (206). Peter Vermes’ side also found multiple goals in 25 of the club’s 40 matches in all competitions last season and was only shutout seven times. Sporting KC finished the regular season as the fourth highest scoring team in MLS with 65 goals, while the side scored 79 goals when including the MLS Cup Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup play. Sporting had 16 different goalscorers last year in MLS play - which was tied for the second highest number of goalscorers across a single squad this season. In 2018, SKC found goals from Daniel Salloi (14), Johnny Russell (10), Diego Rubio (10), Felipe Gutierrez (7), Gerso Fernandes (6), Ilie Sanchez (5), Ike Opara (3), Yohan Croizet (3), Roger Espinoza (3), Khiry Shelton (2), Graham Zusi (2), Jimmy Medranda (2), Cristian Lobato (2), Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (1), Krisztian Nemeth (1) and Gianluca Busio (1).
LONGEST MLS PLAYOFF STREAKS BY A COACH WITH THE SAME TEAM Coach Club Years Seasons Peter Vermes Sporting KC 8 2011-2018 (active) Bruce Arena LA Galaxy 8 2009-2016 Steve Nicol NE Revolution 8 2002-2009 Sigi Schmid Seattle Sounders 7 2009-2015 LA Galaxy 6 1999-2004 Jason Kreis Real Salt Lake 6 2008-2013
The 6-0 triumph over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 20, 2018 tied club records for largest margin of victory and most goals scored in a competitive match. Sporting KC finished the year with 65 goals in 34 regular-season matches, having scored 40 in all of 2017. The last time Sporting KC hit six goals in an MLS match was on June 20, 1999.
VERMES VERBATIM
See below for comments from Sporting KC Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes following the 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Sunday, April 7, 2019..
VERMES ENTERS 11th SEASON
Entering his 11th season at the helm of Sporting KC, manager Peter Vermes looks to win more hardware and guide his side to yet another postseason appearance in 2019. The task begins with the Concacaf Champions League, which began at the end of February, before MLS play began in March while U.S. Open Cup action starts later in the year.
On the rotated starting lineup: “Lot of changes obviously to the lineup. I thought the guys that came in, with not having a lot of games under their belt, actually all did a really good job. It’s not easy anywhere in this league, let alone do it with a bunch of guys that haven’t played a lot of games in succession. So from that perspective, I’m very proud of the guys. I also think that I’m proud of them for trying to play the way we want to play. At times, we actually did some really good things, other times we fell short. But, you know the good thing is they had the courage to do it and then another piece is that they found a way to get back in the game and grind out a result, which is not easy. You kind of expect what the first half was like because there’s a little disconnect on our side, but we built ourselves into the game and took some good information into halftime, which then now translated into the second half, which was really good.”
Vermes is the longest tenured coach that is currently in charge of a team in Major League Soccer, having led Sporting KC since 2009 - one year longer than Ben Olsen has been at the helm at D.C. United. Vermes became the longest tenured coach in MLS when then LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena took the U.S. National Team job in late 2016. Vermes has guided Sporting KC to four titles under his watch, winning three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups in 2012, 2015 and 2017, and the MLS Cup in 2013. His trophy haul ranks as the second highest among active MLS coaches - only trailing Toronto FC’s Greg Vanney’s five championships. On a local level, Vermes’ 11 years with SKC is the second longest tenure by a head coach in the history of major KC professional sports behind Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Hank Stram, who was Chiefs head coach from 1963-1974.
On resting players for Monterrey: “It’d be great to do well in the game and see if we can make a run at it. We’ll see. We’ll see how it goes. I mean, that’s our big thing. They just lost 5-1 to Toluca so stuff happens.” On Sporting KC’s ability: “I think we have a good team. I’ve said this before: I don’t think we’re seven goals better than Montreal, and I don’t think we’re five goals worse than Monterrey. Sometimes games happen like that. We’ve got to respond in the correct way. I thought today was a good step in that direction.”
Vermes has compiled a 170-119-96 record in all competitions with Sporting KC, including a remarkable 20-6-3 mark in U.S. Open Cup contests. Vermes’ 135 wins in MLS regular-season action ranks fifth all-time and second among active coaches in MLS, trailing Los Angeles FC’s Bob Bradley.
2026 WORLD CUP HEADING TO NORTH AMERICA
The United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States was selected to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 by the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow. Kansas City is one of 23 Candidate Host Cities in the United Bid. The vote, which occurred a day before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, also marks the first time three nations have been selected to co-host a FIFA World Cup and the first time the FIFA World Cup will be played in North America in 32 years. The United Bid offers FIFA and its 211 Member Associations unity, certainty, and opportunity as they prepare to host the largest FIFA World Cup in history. With the FIFA Congress decision to award the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to the federations of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the three nations will jointly manage preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup until FIFA establishes their operations to manage the competition. Among other decisions, FIFA will make the final selection of host cities for the 2026 competition from the 23 candidates proposed in the United Bid. Each of the United Bid’s 23 proposed stadiums are fully built, occupied and operational, ensuring long-term use following the 2026 World Cup. The United Bid has 150 existing world-class training facilities, millions of hotel rooms, and advanced infrastructure. The United Bid is expected to generate more than $14 billion in revenue and $11 billion in profits for FIFA, which will be shared with the 211 FIFA Member Associations, helping further develop and expand the game of football across the globe.
4
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TRACKER Players In
Players Out
Tyler Freeman (Signed as Homegrown Player - Oct. 2, 2018)
Kharlton Belmar (Option Declined - Nov. 30, 2018)
Rodney Wallace (Signed as Free Agent - Dec. 14, 2018)
Amer Didic (Option Declined - Nov. 30, 2018)
Erik Hurtado (Trade - Dec. 14, 2018)
Brad Evans (Option Declined/Retired - Nov. 30, 2018)
Botond Barath (Signing - Dec. 18, 2018)
Cristian Lobato (Option Declined - Nov. 30, 2018)
Kelyn Rowe (Trade - Dec. 18, 2018)
Colton Storm (Option Declined - Nov. 30, 2018)
Abdul Rwatubyaye (Signing - Feb. 5, 2019)
Diego Rubio (Trade - Dec. 14, 2018)
Gedion Zelalem (Signing - March 11, 2019)
Ike Opara (Trade - Jan. 28, 2019)
Nicolas Hasler (Signing - April 2, 2019)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TIMELINE DATE IN/OUT DETAILS Oct. 2: IN Sporting KC signs F Tyler Freeman as a Homegrown player from the Sporting KC Academy. Nov. 30: OUT Sporting KC declines options for D Amer Didic, D Brad Evans, D Colton Storm, M Cristian Lobato and F Kharlton Belmar. Dec. 14: IN Sporting KC signs D Rodney Wallace as a free agent. Dec. 14: IN/OUT Sporting KC acquires F Erik Hurtado from Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) in exchange for the club’s natural second-round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and natural first-riund pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. Dec. 18: IN Sporting KC signs D Botond Barath, most recently at Budapest Honved FC (Hungary). Dec. 18: IN/OUT Sporting KC acquires M Kelyn Rowe and $300,000 in allocation money from the Colorado Rapids (MLS) in exchange for F Diego Rubio. Jan. 28: OUT Sporting KC acquires up to $1,000,000 in allocation money from Minnesota United FC (MLS) in exchange for D Ike Opara. Feb. 5: IN Sporting KC acquires D Abdul Rwatubyaye in a transfer from Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda). March 11: IN Sporting KC acquires M Gedion Zelalem in a transfer from Arsenal FC (England). April 2: IN Sporting KC signs D Nicolas Hasler, most recently at the Chicago Fire (MLS).
CONSTRUCTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY Year
MLS SuperDraft
2009
Matt Besler (8th) Graham Zusi (23rd)
Signings
2011
Trades
Homegrown Players
Seth Sinovic (5/10/11)
2013
Jimmy Medranda (8/9/13)
2015
Tim Melia (12/23/14) Roger Espinoza (1/6/15)
2016
Daniel Salloi (1/13/16)
2017 2018
2019
Swope Park Rangers
Gerso Fernandes (1/4/17) Ilie Sanchez (1/13/17) Eric Dick (13th) Graham Smith (18th)
Gianluca Busio (8/25/17)
Yohan Croizet (12/15/17) Johnny Russell (1/31/18) Felipe Gutierrez (2/6/18) Andreu Fontas (8/8/18)
Krisztian Nemeth (8/6/18)
Jaylin Lindsey (1/1/18) Wan Kuzain (4/13/18)
Rodney Wallace (12/14/18) Botond Barath (12/18/18) Abdul Rwatubyaye (2/5/19) Gedion Zelalem (3/11/19) Nicolas Hasler (4/2/19)
Erik Hurtado (12/14/18) Kelyn Rowe (12/18/18)
Tyler Freeman (1/1/19)
5
Adrian Zendejas (12/2/16)
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2019 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS DATE
OPPONENT
COMPETITION
TIME (CT) / RESULT
TV / SCORERS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21
DEPORTIVO TOLUCA
CCL
W
3-0
Nemeth, Gerso, Ilie
Thursday, February 28
at Deportivo Toluca
CCL
W
2-0
Gerso, Nemeth
Sunday, March 3
at Los Angeles FC
MLS
L
1-2
Nemeth
Wednesday, March 6
at Club Atletico Independiente
CCL
L
1-2
Ilie
SUNDAY, MARCH 10
PHILADELPHIA UNION
MLS
W
2-0
Ilie, Own Goal
THURSDAY, MARCH 14
CLUB ATLETICO INDEPENDIENTE CCL
W
3-0
Nemeth (2), Espinoza
Sunday, March 17
at Colorado Rapids
MLS
T
1-1
Russell
SATURDAY, MARCH 30
MONTREAL IMPACT
MLS
W
7-1
Russell (2), Nemeth (3), Gutierrez, Busio
Thursday, April 4
at C.F. Monterrey
CCL
L
0-5
--
Sunday, April 7
at FC Cincinnati
MLS
T
1-1
Busio
THURSDAY, APRIL 11
C.F. MONTERREY
CCL
8:00
YAHOO SPORTS/UDN
SUNDAY, APRIL 14
NEW YORK RED BULLS
MLS
6:00
FOX SPORTS 1
Saturday, April 20
at San Jose Earthquakes
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports KC Plus
SATURDAY, APRIL 27
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC
SUNDAY, MAY 5
ATLANTA UNITED FC
MLS
8:00
FOX SPORTS 1
Sunday, May 12
at D.C. United
MLS
6:00
FOX Sports 1
SATURDAY, MAY 18
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
SUNDAY, MAY 26
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
MLS
5:00
FOX SPORTS 1
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29
LA GALAXY
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
Saturday, June 1
at Houston Dynamo
MLS
7:30
FOX Sports KC
Friday, June 7
at Toronto FC
MLS
7:00
FOX Sports KC Plus
Sunday, June 23
at Columbus Crew SC
MLS
6:30
FOX Sports KC
Saturday, June 29
at Real Salt Lake
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports KC
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3
LOS ANGELES FC
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
SATURDAY, JULY 6
CHICAGO FIRE
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC
Saturday, July 13
at Vancouver Whitecaps FC
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports KC
SATURDAY, JULY 20
FC DALLAS
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
Friday, July 26
at New York City FC
MLS
6:30
FOX Sports 1
Sunday, August 4
at Seattle Sounders FC
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports 1
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
REAL SALT LAKE
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC
Wednesday, August 14
at Orlando City SC
MLS
6:30
FOX Sports KC Plus
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
MINNESOTA UNITED FC
MLS
8:30
ESPN
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
HOUSTON DYNAMO
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
Saturday, September 7
at Portland Timbers
MLS
9:30
FOX Sports KC
Sunday, September 15
at LA Galaxy
MLS
9:00
FOX Sports KC
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
COLORADO RAPIDS
MLS
7:30
FOX SPORTS KC PLUS
Wednesday, September 25
at Minnesota United FC
MLS
7:00
FOX Sports KC Plus
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
PORTLAND TIMBERS
MLS
6:30
FOX SPORTS KC
Sunday, October 8
at FC Dallas
MLS
3:00
FOX Sports KC
6
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC 2019 MLS REGULAR SEASON BOX SCORES March 3, 2019: Los Angeles FC 2-1 Sporting KC MLS Regular Season | Banc of California Stadium | Los Angeles, CA Attendance: 22,099 Weather: Cloudy and 59 degrees Sporting KC (0-1-0, 0 points) Los Angeles FC (1-0-0, 3 points) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Fontas (Barath 69’) D Besler (C) D Sinovic M Ilie M Espinoza M Gutierrez (Rowe 62’) F Russell F Nemeth F Gerso (Salloi 73’)
1 2 F 1 0 0 0 2 2
Los Angeles FC GK Miller D Beitashour D Zimmerman D Segura D Harvey M Kaye M Atuesta M Nguyen (Blessing 72’) F Vela (C) F Ramirez (Diomande 59’) F Rossi (Vassell 85’)
March 10, 2019: Sporting KC 2-0 Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 18,738 Weather: Sunny and 43 degrees 1 2 F 1 1 2 0 0 0
Sporting KC (1-1-0, 3 points) Philadelphia Union (0-2-0, 0 points) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Barath D Besler (C) D Sinovic M Ilie (Croizet 84’) M Busio (Rowe 78’) M Gutierrez F Russell (Salloi 80’) F Nemeth F Gerso
Philadelphia Union GK Blake D Gaddis D Elliott D Trusty D Wagner M Creavalle (Jones 78’) M Medunjanin M Bedoya (C) M Fabian F Picault (Santos 73’) F Burke (Ilsinho 79’)
March 17, 2019: Colorado Rapids 1-1 Sporting KC MLS Regular Season | Dick’s Sporting Goods Park | Commerce City, CO Attendance: 11,037 Weather: Cloudy and 46 degrees Sporting KC (1-1-1, 4 points) Colorado Rapids (0-1-2, 2 points) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Barath D Besler (C) D Sinovic M Ilie M Espinoza (Busio 72’) M Gutierrez (Croizet 81’) F Rowe (Russell 61’) F Nemeth F Gerso
1 2 F 0 1 1 0 1 1
Colorado Rapids GK Howard (C) D Rosenberry D Sjoberg D Wynne D Serna M Feilhaber (Bassett 76’) M Price M Acosta (Blomberg 79’) M Mezquida F Rubio (Shinyashiki 84’) F Kamara
Subs not used: Subs not used: Zendejas (GK) Sisniega (GK) Wallace El-Munir Croizet Silva Hurtado Brewer
Subs not used: Subs not used: Zendejas (GK) Carlos (GK) Rwatubyaye Collin Wallace Mbaizo Hurtado Aaronson
Subs not used: Subs not used: Zendejas (GK) Rawls (GK) Rwatubyaye Smith Lindsey Wilson Jackson
Scoring Summary: SKC - Krisztian Nemeth 1 (Johnny Russell 1) 16’ LAFC - Diego Rossi 1 (Eduard Atuesta 1) 47’ LAFC - Adama Diomande 1 (Jordan Harvey 1) 94+
Scoring Summary: SKC - Ilie Sanchez 1 (Penalty Kick) 11’ SKC - Own Goal (Jack Elliott) 80’
Scoring Summary: COL - Diego Rubio 1 (Unassisted) 54’ SKC - Johnny Russell 1 (Unassisted) 88’
Misconduct Summary: SKC - Felipe Gutierrez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 10’ SKC - Gerso Fernandes (Yellow Card; Dissent) 17’ SKC - Seth Sinovic (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 27’ SKC - Roger Espinoza (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 31’ SKC - Krisztian Nemeth (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 42’ SKC - Graham Zusi (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 51’ LAFC - Jordan Harvey (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 66’ LAFC - Latif Blessing (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 81’ SKC - Roger Espinoza (Yellow Card/Red Card; Unsporting Behavior) 84’ LAFC - Eduard Atuesta (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 89’
Misconduct Summary: SKC - Graham Zusi (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 22’ PHI - Marco Fabian (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 31’ SKC - Gianluca Busio (Yellow Card; Time Wasting) 37’ PHI - Marco Fabian (Red Card; Serious Foul) 60’
Misconduct Summary: SKC - Felipe Gutierrez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 41’ COL - Kei Kamara (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 53’ COL - Benny Feilhaber (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 60’ SKC - Roger Espinoza (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 64’ COL - Diego Rubio (Yellow Card; Simulation) 72’ SKC - Botond Barath (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 75’ COL - Johan Blomberg (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 80’ COL - Johan Blomberg (Yellow Card/Red Card; Time Wasting) 87’
Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 11 (5) 4 17 1 0
LAFC 14 (6) 4 11 4 7
March 30, 2019: Sporting KC 7-1 Montreal Impact MLS Regular Season | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 18,632 Weather: Cloudy and 42 degrees Sporting KC (2-1-1, 7 points) Montreal Impact (2-2-0, 6 points) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Fontas D Besler (C) D Sinovic M Ilie M Espinoza (Busio 62’) M Gutierrez (Rowe 74’) F Russell F Nemeth F Gerso (Croizet 71’)
1 2 F 3 4 7 0 1 1
Montreal Impact GK Bush D Sagna D Cabrera D Camacho D Lovitz M Azira M Piette (C) M Shome (Bayiha 54’) F Okwonkwo (Raitala 76’) F Urruti (Jackson-Hamel 91+) F Taider
Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 16 (4) 4 14 3 6
PHI 15 (4) 2 10 2 5
April 7, 2019: FC Cincinnati 1-1 Sporting KC MLS Regular Season | Nippert Stadium | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 26,023 Weather: Cloudy and 72 degrees 1 2 F 0 1 1 1 0 1
Sporting KC (2-1-2, 8 points) FC Cincinnati (2-2-2, 8 points) Sporting KC GK Zendejas D Hasler D Barath D Fontas D Wallace (Sinovic 27’) M Ilie (C) M Busio M Zelalem (Gutierrez 56’) F Russell F Croizet (Nemeth 70’) F Rowe
FC Cincinnati GK Richey D Deplagne D Hagglund D Waston (C) D Garza M Cruz M Bertone M Ulloa M Lamah (Manneh 46’) F Mattocks (Stanko 82’) F Saief (Alexander 77’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Zendejas (GK) Diop (GK) Barath Brault-Guillard Wallace Sejdic Zelalem Choiniere
Subs not used: Subs not used: Dick (GK) Hague (GK) Rwatubyaye Hoyte Freeman Powell Gerso Amaya
Scoring Summary: SKC - Johnny Russell 2 (Unassisted) 10’ SKC - Krisztian Nemeth 2 (Gerso Fernandes 1, Felipe Gutierrez 1) 43’ SKC - Felipe Gutierrez 1 (Gerso Fernandes 2, Roger Espinoza 1) 47+ SKC - Johnny Russell 3 (Roger Espinoza 2) 50’ SKC - Krisztian Nemeth 3 (Johnny Russell 2) 68’ SKC - Gianluca Busio 1 (Unassisted) 78’ SKC - Krisztian Nemeth 4 (Ilie Sanchez 1) 84’ MTL - Saphir Taider 3 (Maxi Urruti 2, Daniel Lovitz 1) 89’
Scoring Summary: CIN - Darren Mattocks 1 (Penalty Kick) 19’ SKC - Gianluca Busio 2 (Unassisted) 62’
Misconduct Summary: MTL - Daniel Lovitz (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 19’ MTL - Samuel Piette (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 22’ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 17 (9) 1 11 2 8
MTL 13 (2) 2 10 0 4
Misconduct Summary: SKC - Andreu Fontas (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 18’ SKC - Yohan Croizet (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 35’ SKC - Gedion Zelalem (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 38’ CIN - Greg Garza (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 78’ CIN - Leonardo Bertone (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 88’ SKC - Botond Barath (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 93+ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 18 (4) 3 11 3 6
7
CIN 10 (4) 3 13 2 5
Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 9 (3) 1 11 1 4
COL 13 (2) 2 16 3 1
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC 2019 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BOX SCORES February 21, 2019: Sporting KC 3-0 Deportivo Toluca Concacaf Champions League | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 13,927 Weather: Clear and 36 degrees 1 2 F 1 2 3 0 0 0
Sporting KC (1-0-0) Deportivo Toluca (0-1-0) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Fontas D Besler (C) D Sinovic M Ilie M Espinoza (Rowe 78’) M Gutierrez F Russell F Nemeth (Hurtado 82) F Gerso (Salloi 87’)
Deportivo Toluca GK Talavera (C) D Salinas D Maidana D Tobio D Gonzalez M Pardo M Rios (Acero 76’) M Mancuello M Barrientos (Lopez 62’) M Mendoza F Triverio (Gigliotti 21’)
March 6, 2019: Independiente 2-1 Sporting KC Concacaf Champions League | Estadio Agustin Sanchez | Chorrera, Panama Attendance: N/A Weather: Clear and 82 degrees 1 2 F 0 1 1 1 1 2
Sporting KC (2-1-0) CA Independiente (2-0-1) Sporting KC GK Zendejas D Lindsey D Barath D Besler (C) D Wallace M Ilie M Espinoza M Rowe (Russell 68’) F Croizet (Busio 81’) F Hurtado F Salloi (Gerso 78’)
CA Independiente GK Guerra D Cordoba D Negrete D Torres (C) D Avila M Browne M Ayarza M Bolivar M Ivey (Navarro 92+) F Gonzalez F Barrow (Corpas 56’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Zendejas (GK) L. Garcia (GK) Barath S. Garcia Wallace Mora Busio Esquivel
Subs not used: Subs not used: Melia (GK) Roberts (GK) Sinovic Rosales Smith Bellino Nemeth Piedrahita Soraca
Scoring Summary: SKC - Krisztian Nemeth 1 (Gerso Fernandes 1) 35’ SKC - Gerso Fernandes 1 (Unassisted) 52’ SKC - Ilie Sanchez 1 (Unassisted) 72’
Scoring Summary: CAI - Romeesh Ivey 3 (Omar Browne 2) 39’ SKC - Ilie Sanchez 2 (Penalty Kick) 51’ CAI - Alexis Corpas 1 (Gustavo Bolivar 1) 59’
Misconduct Summary: TOL - Rodrigo Salinas (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 39’ TOL - Osvaldo Gonzalez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 83’ SKC - Seth Sinovic (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 86’
Misconduct Summary: SKC - Daniel Salloi (Yellow Card; Argument) 63’
Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 13 (4) 3 21 2 4
TOL 9 (3) 1 18 2 1
February 28, 2019: Deportivo Toluca 0-2 Sporting KC (0-5 agg.) Concacaf Champions League | Estadio Nemesio Diez | Toluca, Mexico Attendance: 14,519 Weather: Clear and 57 degrees 1 2 F 1 1 2 0 0 0
Sporting KC (2-0-0) Deportivo Toluca (0-2-0) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Fontas D Besler (C) D Sinovic M Ilie M Espinoza M Gutierrez (Rowe 70’) F Russell (Salloi 66’) F Nemeth (Hurtado 73) F Gerso
Deportivo Toluca GK Talavera (C) D Salinas D Mora D Maidana D Gonzalez M Barrientos (Rubio 72’) M Rios M Medina M Acero F Gigliotti (Garcia 64’) F Abella (Mendoza 46’)
Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 11 (4) 5 13 0 5
CAI 18 (7) 3 14 2 6
March 14, 2019: Sporting KC 3-0 Independiente (4-2 agg.) Concacaf Champions League | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 13,212 Weather: Rainy and 40 degrees 1 2 F 0 3 3 0 0 0
Sporting KC (3-1-0) CA Independiente (2-1-1) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Barath D Besler (C) D Sinovic (Wallace 92+) M Ilie M Espinoza M Gutierrez F Russell F Nemeth (Croizet 89’) F Salloi (Gerso 21’)
CA Independiente GK Guerra D Cordoba (Bellino 84’) D Negrete D Torres (C) M Gonzalez M Ayarza (Barrow 78’) M Vence M Ivey F Aguilar F Bolivar (Corpas 64’) F Browne
Subs not used: Subs not used: Zendejas (GK) L. Garcia (GK) Barath Castaneda Wallace Lopez Croizet Mancuello
Subs not used: Subs not used: Zendejas (GK) Roberts (GK) Rwatubyaye Avila Busio Navarro Rowe Piedrahita
Scoring Summary: SKC - Gerso Fernandes 2 (Roger Espinoza 1) 8’ SKC - Krisztian Nemeth 2 (Penalty Kick) 62’
Scoring Summary: SKC - Krisztian Nemeth 3 (Botond Barath 1) 74’ SKC - Roger Espinoza 1 (Johnny Russell 1) 81’ SKC - Krisztian Nemeth 4 (Gerso Fernandes 2) 86’
Misconduct Summary: TOL - Pablo Barrientos (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 11’ TOL - Adrian Mora (Red Card; DOGSO) 62’ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 11 (6) 0 14 3 1
TOL 10 (0) 4 10 0 5
Misconduct Summary: CAI - Francisco Vence (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 29’ CAI - Abdiel Ayarza (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 35’ SKC - Felipe Gutierrez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 57’ CAI - Jose Guerra (Yellowm Card; Time Wasting) 64’ SKC - Krisztian Nemeth (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 83’ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 27 (13) 3 17 2 13
8
CAI 5 (3) 10 9 1 1
April 4, 2019: C.F. Monterrey 5-0 Sporting KC Concacaf Champions League | Estadio BBVA Bancomer | Monterrey, Mexico Attendance: 44,582 Weather: Clear and 78 degrees 1 2 F 0 0 0 2 3 5
Sporting KC (3-2-0) C.F. Monterrey (3-1-1) Sporting KC GK Melia D Zusi D Fontas D Besler (C) D Sinovic M Ilie M Espinoza M Gutierrez (Busio 73’) F Russell (Croizet 64’) F Nemeth (Rowe 80’) F Gerso
C.F. Monterrey GK Barovero D Medina D Montes (Layun 73’) D Sanchez D Gallardo (Vangioni 83’) M Pabon (C) (Meza 79’) M Rodriguez M Gonzalez M Hurtado F Pizarro F Funes Mori
Subs not used: Subs not used: Zendejas (GK) Resendez (GK) Barath Ortiz Wallace Bareiro Zelalem Zaldivar Scoring Summary: MTY - Dorlan Pabon 2 (Rogelio Funes Mori 1) 7’ MTY - Aviles Hurtado 1 (Unassisted) 14’ MTY - Jesus Gallardo 2 (Unassisted) 55’ MTY - Nicolas Sanchez (Penalty Kick) 70’ MTY - Dorlan Pabon 3 (Rodlofo Pizarro 1) 76’ Misconduct Summary: SKC - Andreu Fontas (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 30’ MTY - Nicolas Sanchez (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 49’ SKC - Graham Zusi (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 58’ MTY - Cesar Montes (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 67’ Stats Summary Shots (on goal) Saves Fouls Offside Corner Kicks
SKC 27 (13) 3 17 2 13
MTY 5 (3) 10 9 1 1
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC STARTERS BY POSITION (2019 REGULAR SEASON)
Formation: 4-3-3
NOTE: Chart does not account for players interchanging and/or switching positions over the course of a match. Substitute players are not listed.
Center forward Krisztian Nemeth 4 Yohan Croizet 1
Left forward
Right forward
Gerso Fernandes 4 Kelyn Rowe 1
Johnny Russell 4 Kelyn Rowe 1
Left-center midfielder
Right-center midfielder
Felipe Gutierrez 4 Gedion Zelalem 1
Roger Espinoza 3 Gianluca Busio 2
Defensive midfielder Ilie 5
Left back
Seth Sinovic 4 Rodney Wallace 1
Left center back
Right center back
Matt Besler 4 Andreu Fontas 1
Botond Barath 3 Andreu Fontas 2
Goalkeeper
Tim Melia 4 Adrian Zendejas 1
9
Right back
Graham Zusi 4 Nicolas Hasler 1
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes SPORTING KC 2019 REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS DATE
March 3 March 10 March 17 March 30 April 7 April 14 April 20 April 27 May 5 May 12 May 18 May 26 May 29 June 1 June 7 June 23 June 29 July 3 July 6 July 13 July 20 July 26 Aug. 4 Aug. 10 Aug. 14 Aug. 17 Aug. 22 Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 15 Sept. 21 Sept. 25 Sept. 29 Oct. 6
OPPONENT
at Los Angeles FC vs. Philadelphia Union at Colorado Rapids vs. Montreal Impact at FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls at San Jose Earthquakes vs. New England Revolution vs. Atlanta United FC at D.C. United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy at Houston Dynamo at Toronto FC at Columbus Crew SC at Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles FC vs. Chicago Fire at Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. FC Dallas at New York City FC at Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake at Orlando City SC vs. San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC vs. Houston Dynamo at Portland Timbers at LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids at Minnesota United FC vs. Portland Timbers at FC Dallas
RESULT L W T W T
SCORE 1-2 2-0 1-1 7-1 1-1
ATTEND. 22,099 18,738 11,037 18,632 26,023
RECORD PLACE PTS. GOALSCORERS 0-1-0 1-1-0 1-1-1 2-1-1 2-1-2
T-10 T-7 T-6 6 7
0 3 4 7 8
Nemeth Ilie, Own Goal Russell Russell (2), Nemeth (3), Gutierrez, Busio Busio
SPORTING KC 2019 REGULAR-SEASON STATS 2019 SPORTING KANSAS CITY STATISTICS (2-1-2, 8 pts.) THROUGH GAMES OF APRIL 7, 2019 UNF POS PLAYER GP GS MIN 9 F Krisztian Nemeth 5 4 380 7 F Johnny Russell 5 4 379 13 M Gianluca Busio 4 2 214 21 M Felipe Gutierrez 5 4 341 6 M Ilie Sanchez 5 5 444 17 M Roger Espinoza 3 3 218 12 F Gerso Fernandes 4 4 324 2 D Botond Barath 4 3 292 5 D Matt Besler 4 4 360 10 M Yohan Croizet 4 1 104 4 D Andreu Fontas 3 3 248 14 D Nicolas Hasler (TOT) 4 2 163 14 D Nicolas Hasler (KC) 1 1 90 29 GK Tim Melia 4 4 360 11 M Kelyn Rowe 5 2 207 20 F Daniel Salloi 2 0 27 15 D Seth Sinovic 5 4 423 22 D Rodney Wallace 1 1 27 24 M Gedion Zelalem 1 1 56 1 GK Adrian Zendejas 1 1 90 8 D Graham Zusi 4 4 360 18 GK Eric Dick 0 0 0 23 F Tyler Freeman 0 0 0 19 F Erik Hurtado 0 0 0 75 M Wan Kuzain 0 0 0 26 D Jaylin Lindsey 0 0 0 94 D Jimmy Medranda 0 0 0 3 D Abdul Rwatubyaye 0 0 0 16 D Graham Smith 0 0 0 Own-goals received Team totals 5 5 450 Opponent totals 5 5 450
G 4 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 12 5
A 0 2 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SHT 10 11 7 11 4 3 3 1 0 4 2 2 1 0 6 0 3 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SOG 5 4 4 5 1 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FC 6 4 3 7 4 10 4 7 1 3 4 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FS 1 7 3 4 5 6 9 1 1 2 2 3 1 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
OFF 2 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CK 0 16 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
C 1 0 1 2 0 2 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
E 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 4
71 65
26 19
64 60
60 64
10 11
24 22
15 12
1 2
SH 15 4 19 26
SV 11 3 14 14
GA 4 1 5 12
GAA 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.40
PG 0 1 1 1
PA 1 1 2 1
W 2 0 2 1
L 1 0 1 2
T 1 1 2 2
SO 1 0 1 0
GAME-WINNING GOALS: Krisztian Nemeth 1, Ilie Sanchez 1 GAME-WINNING ASSISTS: Felipe Gutierrez 1, Gerso Fernandes 1 PENALTY KICK GOALS/ATTEMPTS: Ilie Sanchez 1-1 SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL GOALKEEPING UNF POS 29 GK 1 GK
GOALKEEPER Tim Melia Adrian Zendejas Team totals Opponent totals
GP 4 1 5 5
GS 4 1 5 5
MIN 360 90 450 450
10
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes Manager | Peter Vermes
Assistant Coach | Kerry Zavagnin Assistant Coach Kerry Zavagnin first joined Kansas City in 2000 as a holding midfielder and was an integral part of the club’s midfield for the next nine seasons, during which time he helped lead the Wizards to MLS Cup (2000) and U.S. Open Cup (2004) Championships. He was named to the MLS All-Star team and the Best XI in 2004. Zavagnin’s primary duties as an assistant include scouting, developing Sporting Kansas City’s younger players, breaking down film and assisting with training sessions, among others.
Peter Vermes is entering his 11th season as Sporting Kansas City Manager in 2019 and is the longest-tenured active head coach in MLS. He is the team’s longest-serving manager and his 170 coaching victories in all competitions are the most club history. During his tenure, he has won four major trophies – the 2012, 2015 and 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups and the 2013 MLS Cup championship – and finished atop the Eastern Conference regular-season standings in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Western Conference in 2018. His three U.S. Open Cup championships are the third most in Open Cup history. He is the first coach in club history to lead Sporting KC to eight straight postseason appearances, as well as the only person to ever win the MLS Cup as both a player and a coach with the same team. His 135 regular-season wins top the club’s all-time chart and rank fifth most in MLS history. He passed his former coach Bob Gansler as the winningest manager in team history with a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 12, 2015, his 109th victory in all competitions.
He started his professional career with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, where he played in 39 games over two seasons. After spending one season with the Lehigh Valley Steam (USL-1), Zavagnin came to Kansas City in 2000. He played 237 games (228 starts) and logged 20,516 minutes for Kansas City, setting team records in both categories before both were overtaken by Matt Besler early in 2018. He scored eight goals and added 22 assists in his nine seasons in Kansas City blue. Zavagnin was named Team Defender of the Year in 2001.
On August 4, 2018, Vermes coached his 302nd MLS regular-season game with Sporting KC, becoming the league’s all-time leader in games coached for one club. He was named the first-ever MLS Sporting Executive of the Year by his peers in 2018. Vermes has coached 385 total games during his Kansas City coaching career, most in club history.
On top of his club success in Kansas City, Zavagnin also appeared 21 times for the United States Men’s National Team. He recorded one assist for the U.S., who went 15-2-4 when Zavagnin featured. He married his wife Mirriam prior to the 2009 season, when he became an assistant coach at the club.
Vermes oversees all soccer operations for Sporting KC, including the active roster, the Swope Park Rangers (USL Championship) and the Sporting KC Academy. Vermes entered MLS ahead of its inaugural season in 1996 and retired from the league in 2002, closing out his playing career in Kansas City after stints with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Colorado Rapids.
Assistant Coach | Zoran Savic Assistant Coach Zoran Savic joined Sporting Kansas City late in the 2009 season after a 30-year career at all levels of the game in the United States. A native of Gornji Milanovac, Yugoslavia, Savic began his journey through American soccer with the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1980. Savic would go on to star for several MISL teams, with his most prosperous period coming with the Kansas City Comets, with whom he scored 70 goals in just over 100 appearances from 1982-1984.
Following a standout high school career in which he was named New Jersey Player of the Year, Vermes was a star forward and All-American at Rutgers University. After college, Vermes represented the United States in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and was named 1988 Chevrolet U.S. Male Soccer Athlete of the Year for his efforts.
After retiring as a player in 1991, Savic turned his attention to coaching in the indoor game. Savic led the Kansas City Attack from 1992-1996, winning Coach of the Year honors for the 1994-1995 season while also serving as the team’s General Manager. Savic later coached the Kansas City Comets from 2000-2005.
Vermes was an integral part of a young U.S. team at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he nearly scored against the host Azzurri. It was the first time the U.S. had qualified for the World Cup in 40 years and set the stage for the progress of the U.S. National Team. In 1989 and 1990, Vermes became the first American to play in the Hungarian and Dutch First Divisions, playing for Raba ETO and FC Volendam, respectively. He later spent five years with Figueras of the Spanish Second Division.
In 2007 Savic switched to the outdoor game, joining Chivas USA as an assistant to then-head coach Preki before moving into the commentary booth for Kansas City matches in 2008 and 2009. Savic’s career as a commentator was cut short, however, when newly installed Manager Peter Vermes tabbed Savic to be part of his coaching staff late in the 2009 season.
For MLS’s inaugural season in 1996, Vermes served as captain of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. In 1997, he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for current Sporting KC Assistant Coach Kerry Zavagnin and played in Denver through the 1999 season, leading the Rapids to the 1997 MLS Cup Final.
Goalkeeper Coach | Alec Dufty Goalkeeper coach Alec Dufty enters his third season with Sporting Kansas City having been introduced to the organization as the Swope Park Rangers goalkeeper coach in the side’s inaugural season in 2016. In his first season working with Sporting KC’s goalkeepers, starting goalkeeper Tim Melia enjoyed a record-breaking season where he was named the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
Vermes joined Kansas City in 2000 for what would be the most successful seasons of his MLS career. During his first year in Kansas City, he anchored one of the best defenses in league history and won MLS Defender of the Year honors in helping lead the Wizards to the 2000 MLS Cup Championship. He retired in 2002 after appearing in 209 MLS matches (including playoffs) and playing more than 18,000 minutes. In 2013, Vermes was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Year
A former MLS player, Dufty began his playing career with the New York Red Bulls in 2009, making one appearance before joining the MLS reserve goalkeeper pool. In 2010, Dufty joined USSF D2 Pro League side AC St. Louis, making 30 appearances before returning to MLS with the Chicago Fire in late 2010.
PETER VERMES HEAD COACHING RECORD AT SPORTING KC MLS Playoffs Open Cup International Total
2009 3-6-3 --- 2010 11-13-6 --- 2011 13-9-12 2-1-0 2012 18-7-9 1-1-0 2013 17-10-7 2-1-2 2014 14-13-7 0-1-0 2015 14-11-9 0-0-1 2016 13-13-8 0-1-0 2017 12-9-13 0-1-0 2018 18-8-8 1-1-2 2019 2-1-2 0-0-0 TOTAL 135-100-84 6-7-5
--- 0-1-0 3-1-0 4-0-1 1-1-0 1-1-0 4-0-1 1-1-0 4-0-1 2-1-0 0-0-0 20-6-3
--- --- --- --- 2-0-2 3-2-1 --- 1-2-1 --- --- 3-2-0 9-6-4
3-6-3 11-14-6 18-11-12 23-8-10 22-12-11 18-17-8 18-11-11 15-17-9 16-9-13 21-10-10 5-3-2 170-119-96
He announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Dufty then took to coaching, first working with Florida Gulf Coast University and then the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2015, Dufty served as goalkeeper coach for Toronto FC II in their inaugural USL season.
Fitness Coach | Mateus Manoel Mateus Manoel is in his eighth season with Sporting KC as Head Fitness Coach. His responsibilities cover all aspects of sport performance and science for the team, including strength and conditioning, injury prevention, field practices, nutrition, fitness monitoring (training load and readiness), player re-adaptation following rehab and recovery. In the summer of 2010, Manoel was an Assistant Fitness Coach for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He had formerly served as the Head Fitness Coach for the Mexican Men’s National Team in 2009, working with renowned coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. During 2007 and 2008, Manoel held a position with Athletes’ Performance in the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, where he worked with professional athletes from a variety of sports, including NFL, NHL, MLB and MLS (Chivas USA and LA Galaxy). Previously, he had assisted with strength and conditioning for D.C. United, while concurrently holding the position of Sports Performance Director with Velocity Sports Performance in Alexandria, Virginia. Manoel holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from George Washington University, where he was also responsible for the strength and conditioning needs of the Colonials Men’s Varsity Soccer Team. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland - College Park and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Manoel was born in Brazil and is fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish. 11
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #2 | D | BOTOND BARATH SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
4
3
292
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
2
2
180
0
1
ALL COMPETITIONS
6
5
472
0
1
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 1, April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Fouls Committed 3, April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Fouls Suffered 1, March 17, 2019, KC at COL Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal N/A Assist N/A 2019 Record when: he starts 1-0-2 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 6-2 Weight: 165 Birthday: 4/21/1992 Hometown: Budapest, Hungary Last Club: Budapest Honved FC (Hungary) Acquired: Signed on 12/18/18 Sporting Kansas City signed Hungarian international defender Botond Barath entering the 2019 campaign. Born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, Barath has previously spent the entirety of his professional career with hometown club Budapest Honved FC, where he made 213 first-team appearances in all competitions from 2009-2018. The center back helped Honved to the 2016-17 Hungarian first-division title and earned his first of three caps for the Hungary Men’s National Team in October 2018.
debut and scored his first of 12 career goals for the club as Honved finished third in the top-flight Nemzeti Bajnoksag. Barath bagged a career-high four goals during the 2015-16 campaign before helping the club win its 14th first-division championship and its first since 1993 in the 2016-17 season. Honved entered 2017-18 UEFA Champions League qualifying, where Barath scored a goal in an aggregate loss to Israeli club Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Barath began his professional career in 2009 with Honved II and became a regular starter Barath has four caps for Hungary, including three in UEFA Nations League play in 2018. for the first team in 2012. In 2012-13, Barath made his UEFA Europa League qualifying Barath previously represented his country at U-18, U-19 and U-21 levels from 2009-2013. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
4
3
292
0
0
1
0
7
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
4
3
292
0
0
1
0
7
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
#5 | D | MATT BESLER | @MattBesler SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
261
255
22936
3
18
MLS Postseason
18
18
1740
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
20
18
1684
0
1
International
15
15
1335
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
314
306
27695
3
19
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: July 3, 2016, KC vs. CLB Assists 1, 18 times, last: Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Shots on Goal 2, Oct. 9, 2010, KC vs. SEA Shots 2, 4 times, last: March 16, 2013, KC vs. CHI Fouls Committed 5, Aug. 4, 2012, KC at NE Fouls Suffered 4, Sept. 26, 2009, KC vs. COL Last Regular Season... Appearance March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Goal July 3, 2016, KC vs. CLB Assist Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN 2019 Record when: he starts 2-1-1 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 6-0 Weight: 170 Birthday: 2/11/1987 Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas College: Notre Dame Acquired: 2009 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#8) Sporting KC’s Matt Besler is in his 10th season at his hometown club. He has earned MLS Best XI (2012-13), MLS All-Star (2011, 2013-16), MLS Defender of the Year (2012) and MLS Breakout Player of the Year (2012) honors since being selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Notre Dame.
Besler has earned 47 caps for the United States Men’s National Team since debuting in January 2013. He featured in four matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Kansan to play in the quadrennial tournament, as the U.S. advanced to the Round of 16. He also helped the U.S. win the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, starting all three matches in the knockout stage. He joined the U.S. squad for the 2016 Copa America Centenario, starting two matches, and scored his first international goal at St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 2, the same day his firstborn daughter Parker Rhea was born in Kansas City. He recently made four appearances for his country as the U.S. claimed the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Besler is first in SKC history with 314 appearances across all competitions and is the club’s leader in regular-season appearances (261), starts (255) & minutes (22,936). A regular staple of the team’s backline, he has started 273 of 279 MLS matches (including playoffs) and landed club Defender of the Year honors four times (2011-13, 2015). MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
261
255
22936
3
18
42
10
219
122
8
1
31
2
2
7
KC - Postseason
18
18
1740
0
0
4
0
20
16
3
0
1
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
279
273
24676
3
18
46
10
239
138
11
1
32
2
2
7
12
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #13 | M | GIANLUCA BUSIO | @gbusio10 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
11
3
367
3
1
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
1
1
90
0
0
International
2
0
26
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
14
4
483
3
1
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Assists 1, Aug. 4, 2018, KC at HOU Shots on Goal 2, March 10, 2019, KC vs. PHI Shots 4, 2 times, last: March 10, 2019, KC vs. PHI Fouls Committed 2, March 10, 2019, KC vs. PHI Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Assist Aug. 4, 2018, KC at HOU 2019 Record when: he starts 1-0-1 he scores 1-0-1
Height: 5-7 Weight: 135 Birthday: 5/28/2002 Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 8/25/2017 Sporting KC signed Gianluca Busio as the club’s fifth Homegrown Player on Aug. 25, 2017, making Busio the youngest active player in MLS and the second youngest player in MLS history at the age of 15 years and 89 days. Busio made his professional debut for the Swope Park Rangers on April 4, 2018, recording the game-winning assist.
Busio starred for the Sporting KC Academy during the 2016-17 season, stepping up from the U-14s to the U-16 level, where he scored nine goals in the USSDA and earned Central Conference Best XI honors. He led the U-16s to their first appearance in the USSDA quarterfinals. Busio also earned time for the SKC U-18s throughout 2016-17.
He made his MLS debut on July 28, 2018, before earning his first MLS start, recording the game-winning assist in a 1-0 win over Houston on Aug. 4, 2018 while he became the third youngest player to start an MLS game at the age of 16 years and 68 days. Busio scored his first MLS goal in the 4-1 victory over Vancouver on Oct. 17, 2018, becoming the second youngest goalscorer in league history at the age of 16 years and 142 days.
At the international level, Busio is a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team. He previously guided the U.S. to a second-place finish at the CONCACAF U-15 Championship in Bradenton, Florida, scoring a team-high five goals in five matches in August 2017. In May 2017 at the Torneo Delle Nazioni in Italy, Busio scored three goals as the American U-17s were crowned tournament champions.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
11
3
367
3
1
16
5
4
5
0
2
1
0
0
1
MLS - TOTAL
11
3
367
3
1
16
5
4
5
0
2
1
0
0
1
#10 | M | YOHAN CROIZET | @Yohancroizet SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
36
20
1698
3
3
MLS Postseason
4
1
105
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
2
0
24
2
0
International
3
1
108
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
45
22
1935
5
3
Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Hometown: Sarrebourg, France Last Club: KV Mechelen (Belgium) Acquired: Signed on 12/15/2017
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Assists 1, 3 times, last: Sept. 8, 2018, KC vs. ORL Shots on Goal 4, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Shots 7, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: May 20, 2018, KC at MIN Fouls Suffered 2, 5 times, last: April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Assist Sept. 8, 2018, KC vs. ORL 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 2/15/1992
Yohan Croizet has scored 31 goals in more than 200 professional appearances across Europe. He joins Sporting KC after spending each of the last three seasons in the top-flight Belgian First Division A, where he has tallied 12 goals and 11 assists since 2015. He signed as a Designated Player in December 2017.
Prior to joining KV Mechelen, Croizet blossomed during a two-year stint with Belgian outfit OH Leuven. He bagged four goals as OH Leuven won the 2014-15 Belgian Second Division playoffs and earned promotion to the top flight. The following year, Croizet notched a career-high nine goals and added four assists as the team’s top scorer.
In his first season with KV Mechelen in 2016-17, Croizet played 37 matches, tallying three goals and four assists to help KV Mechelen to a seventh-place finish and 14 league wins, their most in the Belgian first division since 1993. Croizet added three assists in 15 appearances during the 2017-18 season.
Croizet began his professional career as a 19-year-old, debuting for French club FC Metz in 2011. The midfielder amassed seven goals in 57 matches for FC Metz II from 2011-13 before moving from his native France to Belgium ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, signing for RE Virton of the Belgian Second Division. His six goals from the midfield paved the way for his subsequent move to OH Leuven.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
36
20
1698
3
3
53
16
28
18
4
2
3
0
1
1
KC - Postseason
4
1
105
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
40
21
1803
3
3
53
16
29
19
4
3
3
0
1
1
13
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #18 | GK | ERIC DICK | @DaBrickWall00 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
0
0
0
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A Assists N/A Shots on Goal N/A Shots N/A Fouls Committed N/A Fouls Suffered N/A Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Height: 6-5 Weight: 205 Birthday: 10/3/1994 Hometown: Carmel, Indiana College: Butler University Acquired: 2018 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#13) - signed on 2/15/18
he scores 0-0-0
Sporting KC selected goalkeeper Eric Dick with the 13th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He officially signed an MLS contract for the club in February 2018.
Born in Kansas City suburb Roeland Park, Kansas, Dick led Butler to the 2016 Big East Championship and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances over his last two seasons. He compiled a 27-10-4 record over his junior and senior campaigns, landing First Team Dick, the 13th overall pick in the SuperDraft, was a four-year starter at Butler University in All-Big East Conference accolades in 2017. Indianapolis. As a senior, he was named the 2017 Big East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and received United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American honors. He ended his At the youth level, Dick played for the Indiana Fire Academy and attended Carmel High college career with 28 shutouts and a 0.96 goals against average across 71 starts. School in Carmel, Indiana, where he was a two-time All-District and All-County performer. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
#17 | M | ROGER ESPINOZA SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
225
205
18133
8
34
MLS Postseason
13
12
1019
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
21
18
1946
0
3
International
8
7
670
1
1
ALL COMPETITIONS
267
241
21768
9
38
Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Hometown: Aurora, Colorado College: Ohio State Last Club: Wigan Athletic (England) Acquired: Signed on 1/6/2015
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 8 times, last: Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Assists 2, 3 times, last: March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Shots on Goal 2, 9 times, last: Oct. 7, 2017, KC at MIN Shots 6, May 15, 2016, KC vs. ORL Fouls Committed 5, 3 times, last: March 3, 2019, KC at LAFC Fouls Suffered 6, 2 times, last: Oct. 16, 2016, KC at RSL Last Regular Season... Appearance March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Goal Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Assist March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL 2019 Record when: he starts 1-1-1 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 10/25/1986
Roger Espinoza played five seasons in Kansas City from 2008-12 before moving abroad to Wigan Athletic FC. After a two-year stint in the English Premier League and English Championship, Espinoza returned to Sporting KC in 2015 and tallied one goal and four MLS assists. His 2015 campaign was cut short due to a left foot injury sustained in early August, but returned to the fold as a regular starter in 2016. Espinoza set new careerhighs in both goals (3) and assists (9) in 2018. Espinoza was an MLS All-Star in 2012 and helped lead the club to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title that season. He has made 267 appearances for the club in all
competitions, tallying nine goals and 38 assists over nine seasons. In two years at Wigan Athletic, he logged 57 appearances, including eight in the UEFA Europa League, and started in the club’s 2013 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester City. Espinoza has earned 51 caps for the Honduras Men’s National Team since debuting in 2009. He has competed in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
225
205
18133
8
34
260
64
372
317
13
16
52
9
1
8
KC - Postseason
13
12
1019
0
0
9
4
17
19
2
0
5
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
238
216
19152
8
34
269
68
389
336
15
16
57
9
1
8
14
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #12 | F | GERSO FERNANDES | @ge7fe SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
67
47
4153
13
9
MLS Postseason
3
1
83
1
0
U.S. Open Cup
8
7
538
2
2
International
5
3
348
2
2
ALL COMPETITIONS
83
58
5122
18
13
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 3, May 17, 2017, KC vs. SEA Assists 2, 2 times, last: March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Shots on Goal 4, May 17, 2017, KC vs. SEA Shots 6, May 17, 2017, KC vs. SEA Fouls Committed 5, July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Fouls Suffered 5, March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Last Regular Season... Appearance March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Goal Sept. 15, 2018, KC at SJ Assist March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL 2019 Record when: he starts 2-1-1 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-8 Weight: 140 Birthday: 2/21/1991 Hometown: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau Last Club: C.F. Os Belenenses (Portugal) Acquired: Signed on 1/4/2017 Gerso Fernandes, a left-footed winger, has played more than 150 matches during a six-year professional career in Portugal. Prior to joining Sporting KC ahead of the 2017 season, he spent the previous five seasons in the Portuguese first division, including the 2016-17 Primeira Liga campaign with Belenenses. On May 17, 2017, Fernandes scored the first Sporting KC hat-trick in seven years in a 3-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC before adding a goal and an assist in his first-ever U.S. Open Cup game against Minnesota United FC on June 14, 2017. He was named the club’s 2017 Offensive Player of the Year.
Fernandes started nine of 14 Primeira Liga appearances for Belenenses in the 2016-17 season prior to joining Sporting KC, recording one goal and four assists. He also contributed one assist in three domestic cup matches, featuring in the 2016-17 Taça de Portugal and the 2016-17 Taça da Liga. Fernandes appeared more than 100 times for Estoril between 2011-2016. He helped clinch promotion to the Primera Liga in his first year with the club before facilitating Estoril’s transition to the top flight over the next two seasons, recording four assists in 43 Primera Liga appearances and playing six games in the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League group stage.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
67
47
4153
13
9
103
45
67
75
19
11
6
0
4
2
KC - Postseason
3
1
83
1
0
5
3
2
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
70
48
4236
14
9
108
48
69
78
19
12
6
0
4
2
#4 | D | ANDREU FONTAS | @AFontas3 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
5
4
340
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
3
3
270
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
8
7
610
0
0
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Hometown: Banyoles, Spain Last Club: Celta Vigo (Spain) Acquired: Signed on 8/8/2018
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 1, April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Shots 2, April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Fouls Committed 3, March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal N/A Assist N/A 2019 Record when: he starts 1-1-1 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 11/14/1989
Sporting Kansas City signed center back Andreu Fontas, a 10-year professional with more than 200 appearances in his native Spain, on Aug. 8, 2018. Sporting KC used Targeted Allocation Money to sign Fontas, who was a free agent after being released from his contract with La Liga side Celta Vigo following the 2017-18 season. Fontas spent five seasons from 2013-2018 with Celta Vigo in Spain’s top-flight La Liga, where he started 100 of 105 league appearances and helped the club to the semifinals of the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League. The defender developed in FC Barcelona’s famed La
Masia youth academy alongside current Sporting KC midfielder Ilie Sanchez, playing nearly 100 matches combined for FC Barcelona B and FC Barcelona from 2008-2012. Fontas advanced through from the B team to the first team in 2009 and played in 16 games for the Spanish giants, including a sub appearance in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final that Barca won 4-0 over Santos. Fontas spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Mallorca before signing with Celta Vigo in June 2013, where he made 139 appearances over five years. Internationally, Fontas has represented Spain at the Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 levels and has also played for the Catalonia National Team.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
5
4
340
0
0
2
1
5
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
5
4
340
0
0
2
1
5
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
15
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #23 | F | TYLER FREEMAN | @tylerfreeman23 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
0
0
0
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A Assists N/A Shots on Goal N/A Shots N/A Fouls Committed N/A Fouls Suffered N/A Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Height: 5-10 Weight: 150 Birthday: 1/9/2003 Hometown: Shawnee, Kansas Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 10/2/2018 Sporting Kansas City announced the signing of 16-year-old forward Tyler Freeman as a Homegrown Player late in the 2018 season. A native of Shawnee, Kansas, Freeman is the second-youngest player in club history behind current teammate Gianluca Busio. He entered the Sporting KC Academy in 2014 at age 11 and has represented his hometown club at the U-12 through U-19 levels.
he scores 0-0-0
fourth-place finish at the CONCACAF U-13 Champions League in Mexico City, scoring three goals at the tournament. He featured extensively for both the U-17s and U-19s in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 Development Academy season.
On the international stage, Freeman earned his first selection to the U.S. U-14 Boys’ National Team for a training camp in November 2016. The following June in Zagreb, Freeman made an immediate impact upon joining Sporting KC’s youth ranks, leading the Croatia, he led the U.S. U-14s with a team-best four goals across three friendlies. In U-12s at the 2015 Generation adidas Cup before winning Kansas State Cup titles in 2015 2018, Freeman competed for the U.S. U-16s in April at the Torneo Delle Nazioni in Italy and 2016 with the U-13s. In August 2016, Freeman propelled the Sporting KC U-13s to a before receiving his first call to the U.S. U-17s in August for a Costa Rica training camp. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
#21 | M | FELIPE GUTIERREZ SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
25
22
1863
8
3
MLS Postseason
4
4
360
0
3
U.S. Open Cup
1
0
19
0
0
International
4
4
323
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
34
30
2565
8
6
Height: 5-7 Weight: 145 Hometown: Quintero, Chile Last Club: Real Betis (Spain) Acquired: Signed on 2/6/2018
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, March 10, 2018, KC at CHI Assists 2, Sept. 15, 2018, KC at SJ Shots on Goal 3, 2 times, last: March 24, 2018, KC at COL Shots 6, March 24, 2018, KC at COL Fouls Committed 4, 3 times, last: Sept. 30, 2018, KC vs. RSL Fouls Suffered 3, 4 times, last: Oct. 6, 2018, KC vs. LA Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Assist March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL 2019 Record when: he starts 2-1-1 he scores 1-0-0
Birthday: 10/8/1990
Gutierrez joined 12-time Chilean Primera Division champion CD Universidad Catolica in 2009. He enjoyed a breakout season for the club in 2011, scoring 10 goals in the top-flight Primera Division as Universidad Catolica finished atop the spring Apertura standings and won the 2011 Copa Chile. Gutierrez landed a transfer to FC Twente ahead of the 2012-13 Eredivisie season, debuting for the Dutch side in a UEFA Europa League qualifier. In his sophomore season at FC Twente, Gutierrez reached new heights as the midfielder started 33 league matches and was named the 2013-14 Eredivisie Most Valuable Player for his instrumental role in propelling the Tukkers to a third-place finish in the table.
Gutierrez moved from Netherlands to Spain in 2016-17, signing for Spanish La Liga side Real Betis. His first La Liga goal was a stoppage-time winner as Real Betis beat Osasuna 2-1 in October 2016. Gutierrez spent most of 2017 on loan at Internacional in Brazil, where he played 16 games and helped the club gain promotion to the top-flight Serie A. A native of Quintero, Chile, Gutierrez has represented his country 35 times at the senior international level. He’s competed on a global stage at the sport’s highest level, featuring at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and helping Chile lift the 2015 Copa America title as champions of South America.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
25
22
1863
8
3
51
22
45
29
1
24
5
0
4
2
KC - Postseason
4
4
360
0
3
9
4
9
11
1
11
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
29
26
2223
8
6
60
26
54
40
2
35
5
0
4
2
16
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #14 | D | NICOLAS HASLER SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
1
1
90
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
1
1
90
0
0
Height: 5-9 Weight: 175 Hometown: Vaduz, Liechtenstein Last Club: Chicago Fire (MLS) Acquired: Signed on 4/2/2019
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: Sept. 23, 2017, TOR at NE (w/ TOR) Assists 1, 4 times, last: July 7, 2018, TOR at KC (w/ TOR) Shots on Goal 2, Aug. 19, 2017, TOR at CHI (w/ TOR) Shots 2, 6 times, last: Oct. 28, 2018, CHI vs. DC (w/ CHI) Fouls Committed 2, 3 times, last: Oct. 28, 2018, CHI vs. DC (w/ CHI) Fouls Suffered 4, April 14, 2018, TOR at COL (w/ TOR) Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal Sept. 23, 2017, TOR at NE (w/ TOR) Assist July 7, 2018, TOR at KC (w/ TOR) 2019 Record when: he starts 0-1-1 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 5/4/1991
Sporting Kansas City signed defender Nicolas Hasler in April 2019. He has made more than 200 club appearances since turning professional in 2009, including 39 MLS matches split between Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire. The versatile player spent the first eight years of his career in his native Liechtenstein, where he starred for FC Vaduz and won six major trophies with the club.
spell with Vaduz, Hasler appeared in five separate editions of the UEFA Europa League, won five consecutive Liechtensteiner Cups from 2013-2017 and scored 15 goals in 158 competitive matches. Hasler moved to Toronto in 2017, helping the side to a historic treble consisting of the Canadian Championship, MLS Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup. Hasler was traded to the Chicago Fire in July 2018, where he started nine of 13 matches.
After rising through the ranks and starting his pro career with FC Balzers in 2009, Hasler joined fellow Liechtensteiner club USV Eschen/Mauren for the 2010-11 season. He then moved to FC Vaduz, a club that competes in the Swiss Football League. In a six-year
As one of the country’s most decorated players this decade, Hasler has scored three goals in 59 caps for the Liechtenstein Men’s National Team since 2010 and was named Liechtensteiner Footballer of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
1
1
90
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - Regular Season
38
30
2640
3
4
22
9
20
17
4
0
1
0
1
1
MLS - Postseason
2
1
107
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
40
31
2747
3
4
23
9
20
17
4
0
1
0
1
1
#19 | F | ERIK HURTADO | @Etado19 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
3
1
115
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
3
1
115
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 12 times, last: Aug. 4, 2018, VAN at NYC (w/ VAN) Assists 1, 10 times, last: Oct. 21, 2018, VAN at LAFC (w/ VAN) Shots on Goal 2, 9 times, last: Sept. 30, 2018, VAN at KC (w/ VAN) Shots 7, Sept. 3, 2016, VAN vs. NY (w/ VAN) Fouls Committed 5, Sept. 3, 2017, VAN vs. NY (w/ VAN) Fouls Suffered 5, Aug. 27, 2016, VAN at LA (w/ VAN) Last Regular Season... Appearance Oct. 21, 2018, VAN at LAFC (w/ VAN) Goal Aug. 4, 2018, VAN at NYC (w/ VAN) Assist Oct. 21, 2018, VAN at LAFC (w/ VAN) 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-10 Weight: 185 Birthday: 11/15/1990 Hometown: Beaverton, Oregon Last Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) Acquired: Acquired via trade on 12/14/2018 Sporting KC acquired forward Erik Hurtado in late 2018 from Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In six seasons with the Whitecaps, Hurtado contributed 17 goals and 13 assists in 123 matches (47 MLS starts) across all competitions since being selected fifth overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.
Norwegian first division. Hurtado made 12 appearances during the five-month loan spell. Hurtado had two goals and two assists in the 2016-17 Concacaf Champions League with Vancouver, scoring in both CCL fixtures against Sporting KC, as the Whitecaps advanced from the group stage and advanced all the way to the semifinals.
The former U.S. youth international and Santa Clara product recorded seven goals and five assists in his first two professional seasons, before helping the Whitecaps to their lone Canadian Championship title in 2015 with an 87th-minute game-tying assist in the semifinal series before garnering European experience on loan with Mjondalen in the
More recently, Hurtado has compiled six goals and three assists since the start of the 2017 season, including his game-winning goal in Vancouver’s 1-0 victory over Sporting KC at Children’s Mercy Park that snapped Sporting’s 24-game home unbeaten streakon Sept. 30, 2017.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - Regular Season
105
47
4713
12
10
126
43
101
71
46
6
3
0
2
3
MLS - Postseason
1
1
78
1
0
2
2
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
106
48
4791
13
10
128
45
104
74
46
6
3
0
2
3
17
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #26 | D | JAYLIN LINDSEY | @JaylinLindsey SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
7
6
555
0
1
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
3
2
205
0
0
International
1
1
90
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
11
9
850
0
1
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 1, July 14, 2018, KC at NY Shots on Goal 1, July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Shots 2, 2 times, last: July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Fouls Committed 1, 5 times, last: July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Fouls Suffered 1, 2 times, last: July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Last Regular Season... Appearance July 28, 2018, KC vs. FCD Goal N/A Assist July 14, 2018, KC at NY 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-8 Weight: 155 Birthday: 3/27/2000 Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina Last Club: Sporting KC Academy Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 1/1/2018 Sporting Kansas City signed Jaylin Lindsey as a Homegrown Player in September 2017, with his contract starting on Jan. 1, 2018. He made his MLS debut on June 3 in a 4-1 win over Minnesota United FC. A product of the Sporting KC Academy, Lindsey is the third-youngest signing in club history. The defender has featured for the Sporting KC U-16s and U-18s and made more than 25 appearances for the United States U-17 Men’s National Team from 2016-2017.
Lindsey signed an Academy contract with the Swope Park Rangers on May 6, 2016. A day later, he became the first American player born in 2000 or later to appear in a professional match. Lindsey would feature once more for the Rangers before joining the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in August 2016. Lindsey has featured regularly for the U.S. U-17s and received his first call-up to the U.S. U-20s in September 2018. He was named to the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship Best XI in May after helping the U.S. to a second-place finish. That allowed Lindsey to represent the U.S. at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. Lindsey has been a youth international since 2013, representing the U-14s, U-15s and U-17s.
Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lindsey joined the Sporting KC Academy in January 2015. He has made more than 30 combined appearances for the U-16s and U-18s. After impressing throughout his first full Academy season with Sporting KC, MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
7
6
555
0
1
5
1
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
7
6
555
0
1
5
1
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
#94 | D | JIMMY MEDRANDA | @jimmymedranda SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
86
62
5311
5
4
MLS Postseason
2
1
121
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
7
6
648
0
2
International
2
1
96
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
97
70
6177
5
6
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 5 times, last: April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Assists 1, 4 times, last: April 15, 2018, KC vs. SEA Shots on Goal 3, June 3, 2017, KC vs. MIN Shots 4, 5 times, last: June 3, 2017, KC vs. MIN Fouls Committed 4, 2 times, last: Sept. 24, 2016, KC at SJ Fouls Suffered 4, March 15, 2014, KC vs. FCD Last Regular Season... Appearance May 20, 2018, KC at MIN Goal April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Assist April 15, 2018, KC vs. SEA 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-8 Weight: 150 Birthday: 2/7/1994 Hometown: Mosquera, Nariño, Colombia Last Club: Deportivo Pereira (Colombia) Acquired: Signed on 2/13/2014 Jimmy Medranda joined Sporting KC in August 2013 on loan from Colombian club Deportivo Pereira, making his MLS debut a month later. He signed permanently for Sporting KC in February 2014 and has played 97 games for the club across all competitions. He set career highs for appearances (39), starts (29), minutes (2,619) and goals (2) in 2017.
Medranda has scored five goals and added six assists since the start of 2016, his first for the club. He joined Deportivo Pereira’s youth system at age 12 before climbing the ladder to the senior team by age 17. He made 16 first team appearances for the club in two seasons, scoring twice.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
86
62
5311
5
4
109
22
81
49
6
19
12
1
1
2
KC - Postseason
2
1
121
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
88
63
5432
5
4
110
22
82
50
6
19
12
1
1
2
18
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #29 | GK | TIM MELIA | @TimMelia28 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
119
119
10679
0
0
MLS Postseason
6
6
534
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
11
11
1080
0
0
International
5
5
450
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
141
141
12743
0
0
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Hometown: Great River, New York College: Lynn University Last Club: Chivas USA (MLS) Acquired: Signed on 12/23/2014
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed 5, 2 times, last: Aug. 19, 2015, KC vs. SJ Saves 10, April 8, 2018, KC at LA Last Regular Season... Appearance March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Shutout March 10, 2019, KC vs. PHI 2019 Record when: he starts 2-1-1
Birthday: 5/15/1986
Tim Melia became one of the top goalkeepers in MLS in 2017 following his breakout season in 2015 where he earned MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors. Melia claimed the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year crown with career-highs in wins (12), shutouts (10), saves (91), starts (31) and minutes (2,759). Melia surpassed each of those numbers in 2018, posting 18 wins, 13 shutouts, 106 saves, 34 starts and 3060 minutes.
During his breakout campaign in 2015, Melia finished third in 2015 with a 72.6 precent save percentage while also ranking in the top 10 in wins, shutouts and goals against average. He was a six-time member of the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week and became the first goalkeeper in MLS history to record six shutouts in his first nine league matches for a new team.
Melia was also named the club’s 2017 Most Valuable Player. Among goalkeepers with at least 15 regular-season appearances in 2017, he led MLS with a 0.78 goals against average, 78.4 save percentage and 69.2-percent passing accuracy. He also ranked second in shutouts. On April 8, 2018, Melia set a new club record and career-high with 10 saves in a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy.
After a four-year college career with NCAA Division III program Lynn University (New York), Melia began his professional career in 2008 with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division. After stints with Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA, he spent the latter half of 2014 as a League Pool Goalkeeper, earning emergency call-ups from Sporting KC, FC Dallas and D.C. United.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
SHT
SVS
SO
GA
GAA
PG
PA
C
E
W
L
T
KC - Regular Season
119
119
10679
482
351
40
126
1.06
11
19
8
0
54
35
29
MLS - Regular Season
125
124
11119
518
373
40
140
1.13
12
20
8
1
54
39
30
KC - Postseason
6
6
534
24
15
1
8
1.35
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
MLS - TOTAL
131
130
11652
542
388
41
148
1.14
12
20
8
1
55
41
32
#9 | F | KRISZTIAN NEMETH | @KNemeth_Nemo SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
42
31
2803
15
7
MLS Postseason
2
1
130
1
0
U.S. Open Cup
4
4
371
5
1
International
4
4
324
4
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
52
40
3628
25
8
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 3, March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Assists 1, 10 times, last: Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR Shots on Goal 3, March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Shots 6, 2 times, last: Oct. 22, 2017, NE at MTL (w/ NE) Fouls Committed 3, March 3, 2019, KC at LAFC Fouls Suffered 7, May 29, 2015, KC vs. FCD Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Assist Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR 2019 Record when: he starts 2-1-1 he scores 1-1-0
Height: 5-11 Weight: 165 Birthday: 1/5/1989 Hometown: Gyor, Hungary Last Club: New England Revolution (MLS) Acquired: Acquired via trade with New England Revolution on 8/6/2018 Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Krisztian Nemeth from the New England Revolution in August 2018. Nemeth returns to Sporting KC after recording 16 goals and seven assists in 33 competitive matches for the club in 2015. The forward joined Al-Gharafa SC in Qatar in 2016 and has spent the last 12 months in MLS with the Revs. In his first stint with SKC, Nemeth was named the club’s newcomer of the year and became Kansas City’s first MLS Goal of the Year winner for his stunning solo effort in a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Oct. 3, 2015. The Hungarian scored 10 goals throughout the 2015 regular season, earning MLS Player of the Month honors in May.
Nemeth also played a pivotal role in Sporting KC’s run to the 2015 U.S. Open Cup title, finishing as the tournament’s joint-top scorer with five goals, including a second-half equalizer in the final as Sporting KC defeated the Philadelphia Union on penalties. Nemeth began his career with MTK Budapest in Hungary before signing with Liverpool FC in 2007. He had loan stints at Blackpool and AEK Athens before signing permanently in Greece with Olympiacos in 2010. Nemeth endured further loan spells at Olympiacos Volos, MTK Budapest and RKC Waalwijk before signing permanently in the Netherlands with Roda JC in 2012, where he spent two years prior to joining SKC in 2015.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
42
31
2803
15
7
87
33
30
43
15
0
4
0
6
1
MLS - Regular Season
63
38
3446
16
10
105
38
46
52
16
0
5
1
6
1
KC - Postseason
2
1
130
1
0
4
2
3
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
65
39
3576
17
10
109
40
49
52
16
0
6
1
6
1
19
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #11 | M | KELYN ROWE | @Krowe210 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
5
2
207
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
4
1
110
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
9
3
317
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, 3 times, last: Sept. 17, 2016, NE at MTL (w/ NE) Assists 2, 2 times, last: April 6, 2018, NE vs. MTL (w/ NE) Shots on Goal 5, March 28, 2016, NE vs. SJ (w/ NE) Shots 7, March 28, 2016, NE vs. SJ (w/ NE) Fouls Committed 5, March 10, 2018, NE vs. COL (w/ NE) Fouls Suffered 5, 3 times, last: May 27, 2017, NE at NY (w/ NE) Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal Oct. 18, 2018, NE at RSL (w/ NE) Assist April 6, 2018, NE vs. MTL (w/ NE) 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-2 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-8 Weight: 150 Birthday: 12/02/1991 Hometown: Federal Way, Washington Last Club: New England Revolution (MLS) Acquired: Acquired via trade with the Colorado Rapids on 12/18/2018
Kelyn Rowe joined Sporting KC ahead of the 2019 season having made 214 appearances England to their first MLS Cup appearance since 2007. Rowe combined for 12 goals and for the New England Revolution in MLS action since being selected out of UCLA as the 13 assists in 2015 and 2016, playing 33 of the side’s 34 MLS regular season games in third overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, recording 30 goals and 42 assists over the each campaign, while also aiding the Revs’ run to the U.S. Open Cup Final in 2016. past seven seasons. Rowe has earned four caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team, helping the side win the During his rookie year, Rowe bagged three goals and five assists in 30 appearances 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup. Rowe made his debut on July 1, 2017 in a friendly against before breaking out in 2013 as the Revs reached the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in Ghana before appearing in two group stage games at the Gold Cup – recording an assist four attempts, notching eight goals and nine assists on the season. Rowe followed that up on the game-winner against Panama before netting his first international goal in the win with another solid season in 2014, as his five goals and six assists helped propel New vs. Nicaragua. He won his fourth cap against Bosnia & Herzegovina in January 2018. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
5
2
207
0
0
6
0
1
3
0
2
0
0
0
0
MLS - Regular Season
211
163
14811
29
40
366
123
225
264
26
197
20
0
6
9
MLS - Postseason
8
7
647
1
2
15
5
11
8
1
7
0
0
1
0
MLS - TOTAL
219
170
15458
30
42
381
128
236
272
27
204
20
0
7
9
#7 | F | JOHNNY RUSSELL SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
35
28
2562
13
12
MLS Postseason
4
4
345
0
1
U.S. Open Cup
3
2
190
2
2
International
5
4
332
0
1
ALL COMPETITIONS
47
38
3429
15
16
Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland Last Club: Derby County FC (England) Acquired: Signed on 1/31/2018
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 3, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Assists 2, 2 times, last: Aug. 25, 2018, KC vs. MIN Shots on Goal 4, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Shots 6, 2 times, last: Oct. 6, 2018, KC vs. LA Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Fouls Suffered 4, May 20, 2018, KC at MIN Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Assist March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL 2019 Record when: he starts 2-1-2 he scores 1-0-1
Birthday: 4/8/1990
Sporting KC acquired Scottish winger Johnny Russell in a transfer from English club Derby County FC in January 2018. Russell scored 93 goals during a 12-year professional career in England and his native Scotland. Russell developed in the Dundee United FC Academy in Scotland before making his professional debut for the top-flight Scottish Premiership club in May 2007 at age 17. He spent most of the following two seasons on loan at Scottish side Forfar Athletic, recording eight goals, and marked his first career Dundee United start with a goal in a 2009 Scottish FA Cup win over East Sterlingshire. After being loaned to Raith Rovers in 2009-10, Russell enjoyed a breakout year at Dundee United with nine goals as the Tangerines finished fourth in the Scottish Premier League. He added 14 more goals in all
comps during the 2011-12 campaign to pace another fourth-place finish. Russell’s final season at Dundee saw him produce a team-best 20 goals in 38 competitive appearances. Russell reached new heights in June 2013 when he joined Derby County. He marked his debut for the outfit with his first of nine goals in the 2013-14 English Championship as the Rams fell just short of promotion to the EPL. He totaled 18 goals over the next two seasons. Russell has 11 career caps for Scotland and scored his first international goal during a European Championshop Qualifier in San Marino on March 24, 2019. Russell made his debut in 2014 and recently helped Scotland gain promotion to League B in the UEFA Nations League in 2018. He has also represented Scotland at the U-19 and U-21 levels.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
35
28
2562
13
12
81
34
19
44
5
90
3
0
1
3
KC - Postseason
4
4
345
0
1
8
2
6
6
1
13
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
39
32
2907
13
13
89
36
25
50
6
103
3
0
1
3
20
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #3 | D | ABDUL RWATUBYAYE | @ARwatubyaye SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
0
0
0
0
0
Height: 6-1 Weight: 175 Hometown: Kigali, Rwanda Last Club: Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda) Acquired: Signed on 2/5/2019
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A Assists N/A Shots on Goal N/A Shots N/A Fouls Committed N/A Fouls Suffered N/A Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Birthday: 10/23/1996
he scores 0-0-0
Abdul Rwatubyaye joined Sporting KC in early 2019 from Rayon Sports FC in his native Rwanda. He spent three years rising the youth ranks of hometown club APR FC before launching his professional career at age 16 with Isonga FC in 2013. A strong showing with the club prompted his return to APR, where he won two consecutive Rwanda Premier League titles as a regular starter along the backline.
After leading APR to another league title in 2015-16, Rwatubyaye moved to crosstown rival Rayon Sports. In his first season with the team, he scored four goals in 22 matches and lifted his third straight Premier League trophy. The following season, Rwatubyaye and Rayon Sports performed admirably in the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup, reaching the tournament’s quarterfinals for the first time in club history.
Rwatubyaye tallied three goals and an assist in 21 games during the 2014-15 campaign, which culminated in a league championship and a berth in the 2016 CAF Champions League. He made an emphatic impact in the tournament’s preliminary round, scoring a hat-trick of headed goals in APR’s 4-1 second-leg victory over Mbabane Swallows to secure a 4-2 aggregate win.
Rwatubyaye has 23 caps for Rwanda and also represented his country at the U-17, U-20, U-23 and senior levels. Rwatubyaye made his Rwanda debut at the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, helping the Wasps reach the tournament final, prior to scoring his first international goal in a 1-1 draw against Cameroon in January 2016. Rwatubyaye has started each of Rwanda’s four matches during 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
#20 | F | DANIEL SALLOI | @danielsalloi SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
53
38
3490
14
9
MLS Postseason
5
4
397
3
0
U.S. Open Cup
7
3
405
5
0
International
4
2
126
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
69
47
4418
22
9
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, Oct. 17, 2018, KC at VAN Assists 2, 2 times, last: June 23, 2018, KC vs. HOU Shots on Goal 4, 2 times, last: Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Shots 8, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL Fouls Committed 2, 4 times, last: Aug. 4, 2018, KC at HOU Fouls Suffered 4, Oct. 11, 2017, KC at HOU Last Regular Season... Appearance March 10, 2019, KC vs. PHI Goal Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC Assist Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 6-1 Weight: 150 Birthday: 7/19/1996 Hometown: Budapest, Hungary Last Club: Gyirmot SE (Hungary) - Loan Acquired: Signed as a Homegrown on 1/13/2016 Sporting Kansas City signed forward Daniel Salloi as the fourth Homegrown Player in club history in early 2016 and made his Sporting KC debut on April 9, 2017 against the Colorado Rapids. Salloi is one of five Homegrown Players on Sporting Kansas City’s current roster, alongside Gianluca Busio (2017), Jaylin Lindsey (2018), Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (2018) and Tyler Freeman (2019). He scored on his first start for the club - a 4-0 win over Minnesota United FC in the U.S. Open Cup on June 14, 2017 - before adding his first MLS goal vs. Portland on July 1. Salloi scored the winning goal in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final. Salloi made 10 appearances for Sporting KC’s USL affiliate, the Swope Park Rangers, in 2016 and scored four goals and added three assists before being loaned to Gyirmot SE in Hungary
for the remainder of the season. Salloi moved to the United States in August 2014 as an AFS exchange student and attended Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, joining joined the Sporting Kansas City Academy U-18s for the 2014-15 season. After a successful spell with the Sporting KC U-18s, Salloi returned to his former Academy side Ujpest FC in July 2015 to sign an amateur contract for senior team, a 20-time champion in Hungary’s first division. He made his professional debut in the top-tier OTP Bank Liga on July 18, the day before his 19th birthday. Salloi received his first call-up to the Hungary National Team in August 2018. He previously played for the Hungary Under-21 National Team after debuting in 2017 and earned four caps.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
53
38
3490
14
9
120
50
23
44
14
1
4
1
6
4
KC - Postseason
5
4
397
3
0
15
5
3
8
2
0
1
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
58
42
3887
17
9
135
55
26
52
16
1
5
1
6
4
21
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #6 | M | ILIE SANCHEZ SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
72
72
6474
5
7
MLS Postseason
5
5
480
1
0
U.S. Open Cup
8
8
780
0
1
International
5
5
450
2
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
90
90
8184
8
8
Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Hometown: Barcelona, Spain Last Club: Elche CF (Spain) Acquired: Signed on 1/13/2017
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 5 times, last: March 10, 2019, KC vs. PHI Assists 2, May 9, 2018, KC at ATL Shots on Goal 2, 2 times, last: Oct. 21, 2018, KC at FCD Shots 5, April 20, 2018, KC vs. VAN Fouls Committed 5, March 10, 2018, KC at CHI Fouls Suffered 6, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal March 10, 2019, KC vs. PHI Assist March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL 2019 Record when: he starts 2-1-2 he scores 1-0-0
Birthday: 11/21/1990
Ilie, a product of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy, has eight years of professional experience in Spain and Germany. The defensive midfielder featured extensively for FC Barcelona B from 2009-2014 and most recently played for Elche CF during the 2015-16 season. He joined Sporting KC ahead of the 2017 season and has made 89 appearances in all competitions, earning SKC Newcomer of the Year honors in 2017 before being named an MLS All-Star and the club’s Most Valuable Player in 2018.
After missing most of 2011-12 through injury, Sánchez claimed a regular spot in Barcelona B’s midfield over the next two seasons. He played 29 league matches in 2012-13 and started 36 of 38 appearances in 2013-14, guiding Barcelona B to another third-place finish in the Segunda Division. Sánchez appeared in 114 league games during his five-year spell at FC Barcelona B.
Sánchez moved to Germany’s second division in 2014, making 26 appearances in all Born and raised in Barcelona, Sánchez jumped from La Masia to FC Barcelona B ahead competitions for 1860 Munich of the 2. Bundesliga. He was then loaned back to his native of the 2009-10 campaign. He helped the club earn promotion to the Spanish Segunda Spain for the 2015-16 campaign, where he played 28 games for CF Elche in the Segunda Division in his first professional season. He played 24 more matches the following year as Division. Barcelona B finished third in Spain’s second tier. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
72
72
6474
5
7
68
17
54
76
0
13
12
0
1
2
KC - Postseason
5
5
480
1
0
5
2
4
4
0
0
1
0
1
0
MLS - TOTAL
77
77
6954
6
7
73
19
58
08
0
13
13
0
2
2
#15 | D | SETH SINOVIC | @ssinovic SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
193
183
16250
1
11
MLS Postseason
15
15
1404
2
0
U.S. Open Cup
15
15
1248
0
2
International
15
14
1296
1
2
ALL COMPETITIONS
238
227
20198
4
15
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, April 9, 2017, KC vs. COL Assists 1, 11 times, last: Aug. 25, 2018, KC vs. MIN Shots on Goal 2, 2 times, last: Oct. 11, 2017, KC at HOU Shots 3, 5 times, last: Aug. 25, 2018, KC vs. MIN Fouls Committed 5, 2 times, last: Sept. 23, 2015, KC at HOU Fouls Suffered 3, 6 times, last: April 20, 2013, KC at LA Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal April 9, 2017, KC vs. COL Assist Aug. 25, 2018, KC vs. MIN 2019 Record when: he starts 2-1-1 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Birthday: 1/28/1987 Hometown: Leawood, Kansas College: Creighton Last Club: New England Revolution (MLS) Acquired: Signed on 5/10/2011 A nine-year MLS veteran, Seth Sinovic has started 227 of 238 appearances in all competitions since joining Sporting KC from the New England Revolution in 2011. The left back played at least 30 regular season matches every year from 2012-2014, during which time Sporting KC conceded the fewest combined goals in MLS. He scored his first MLS regular-season goal on his 150th MLS appearance for Sporting KC against the Colorado Rapids on April 9, 2017.
A native of Leawood, Kansas, Sinovic scored his first professional goal in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs and notched the second of his career in the 2013 postseason as Sporting KC won MLS Cup. He was named the club’s Defender of the Year in 2014. After a four-year college career at Creighton University, Sinovic was selected by New England with the 25th pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. He made 20 MLS appearances as a rookie before moving to Sporting KC in 2011.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
193
183
16250
1
11
99
26
198
119
10
0
32
1
0
5
MLS - Regular Season
213
201
17830
1
11
106
27
211
130
11
0
35
1
0
5
KC - Postseason
15
15
1404
2
0
7
4
23
16
0
0
3
0
2
0
MLS - TOTAL
228
216
19234
3
11
113
31
234
146
11
0
38
1
2
5
22
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #16 | D | GRAHAM SMITH | @grahamsmith161 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
2
2
180
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
1
1
90
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
3
3
270
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 1, June 23, 2018, KC vs. HOU Fouls Committed 2, July 14, 2018, KC at NY Fouls Suffered 0 Last Regular Season... Appearance July 14, 2018, KC at NY Goal N/A Assist N/A 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 6-3 Weight: 185 Birthday: 4/8/1990 Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado College: University of Denver Acquired: 2018 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#18) - signed on 2/15/18 Sporting Kansas City selected center back Graham Smith with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft before officially sigining him in February 2018. He made his debut and first start for the club in the 3-2 victory over Houston on June 23, 2018, going the full 90 minutes at center back in the thrilling win.
A native of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Smith was teammates with current SKC forward Khiry Shelton during his freshman year at Oregon State. He assisted three goals in 38 matches for the Beavers, helping the side reach the NCAA Tournament in 2014. Upon transferring to Denver in 2016, Smith helped the Pioneers reach the Men’s College Cup for the first time in program history. He split time between the holding midfield and Smith split his four-year college career between Oregon State University (2014-15) and center back positions, serving as the anchor of a defense that notched a 0.52 goals the University of Denver (2016-17). The defender started all 80 appearances at the NCAA against average in 2016 and a 0.71 goals against average in 2017. As a senior, Smith Division I level, registering six goals and seven assists in his final two seasons with the was a United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team selection and a CoSIDA Pioneers. Academic All-American. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
2
2
180
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
2
2
180
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
#22 | D | RODNEY WALLACE | @rodwallace22 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
1
1
27
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
2
1
91
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
3
2
118
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, Oct. 4, 2014, POR at SJ (w/ POR) Assists 3, June 23, 2013, POR vs. COL (w/ POR) Shots on Goal 5, May 7, 2017, NYC vs. ATL (w/ NYC) Shots 6, Sept. 27, 2017, NYC at MTL (w/ NYC) Fouls Committed 6, May 30, 2009, DC vs. NY (w/ DC) Fouls Suffered 3, 5 times, last: Sept. 27, 2017, NYC at MTL (w/ NYC) Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal Sept. 29, 2018, NYC at MIN (w/ NYC) Assist May 19, 2018, NYC vs. COL (w/ NYC) 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 6-0 Weight: 165 Birthday: 6/17/1988 Hometown: Rockville, Maryland College: University of Maryland Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent on 12/14/18 Sporting Kansas City signed free agent defender and Costa Rican international Rodney Wallace in December 2018. Wallace has recorded 26 goals and 33 assists in 214 MLS appearances (including playoffs) since beginning his professional career in 2009. The versatile veteran, who was a 2013 MLS All-Star and a 2015 MLS Cup champion with with the Portland Timbers, arrives in Kansas City after a two-year stint with New York City FC. Selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, Wallace had three goals and three assists as a rookie with D.C. United before joining the Timbers ahead of their inaugural 2011 campaign. As a left-sided midfielder and defender, Wallace experienced a breakout year in 2013 when he scored a career-high seven goals with six assists and propelled Portland to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time.
Wallace bounced back from a knee injury to record five goals and one assist in 17 games in 2014, resulting in 2014 MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors. He made a career-high 32 regular-season appearances in 2015 for a Portland side that finished third in the Western Conference before bagging the game-winner in the 2015 MLS Cup. In 2016, Wallace continued his career abroad in the top divisions of Portugal and Brazil, first with FC Arouca and then Sport Recife. Wallace made 46 MLS appearances for NYCFC from 2017-2018, where he notched five goals and eight assists. Wallace has earned 32 caps for the Costa Rica Men’s National Team, tallying four goals and notably featuring at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after competing at the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2013 and 2017.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
1
1
27
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
MLS - Regular Season
204
161
14174
24
29
262
91
275
123
51
0
35
0
8
9
MLS - Postseason
11
11
891
2
4
21
7
27
7
3
0
4
0
1
2
MLS - TOTAL
215
172
15065
26
33
283
98
302
130
54
0
39
0
9
11
23
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #75 | M | WAN KUZAIN WAN KAMAL | @LeKuz7 SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
6
3
307
1
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
2
2
173
0
1
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
8
5
480
1
1
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, June 3, 2018, KC vs. MIN Assists 0 Shots on Goal 2, June 3, 2018, KC vs. MIN Shots 3, June 3, 2018, KC vs. MIN Fouls Committed 2, July 4, 2018, KC at RSL Fouls Suffered 2, 2 times, last: July 7, 2018, KC vs. TOR Last Regular Season... Appearance July 7, 2018, KC vs. TOR Goal June 3, 2018, KC vs. MIN Assist N/A 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-10 Weight: 160 Birthday: 9/14/1998 Hometown: Carbondale, Illinois Last Club: Swope Park Rangers (USL) Acquired: Signed as Homegrown on 4/13/2018 Sporting Kansas City signed holding midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal to an MLS contract on April 13, 2018, becoming the ninth Homegrown player in club history and the fourth on the active roster. Kuzain is the first Sporting KC Homegrown signing to progress from the Sporting KC Academy to the Swope Park Rangers to the senior team. Kuzain made his Sporting KC debut on May 27, 2018 before scoring his first goal in his second appearance with the game-winner against Minnesota United on June 3, 2018. Born and raised in Carbondale, Illinois, Kuzain spent several years with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club before joining the Sporting Kansas City Academy in August 2016. He signed an Academy contract with the Rangers later that month.
Kuzain continued to develop in 2017 with the Swope Park Rangers, where he helped them to a second straight Western Conference championship. He debuted for the club last March and signed his first professional contract with the club in July, ending the campaign with 13 games played. His 91.3-percent passing accuracy last season ranked first in the USL among players with at least five appearances. As a youth, Kuzain previously trained with the United States U-17 Men’s National Team in 2013 and 2014 as well as Dutch club Feyenoord in late 2015.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
6
3
307
1
0
5
2
4
6
0
0
1
0
1
0
MLS - TOTAL
6
3
307
1
0
5
2
4
6
0
0
1
0
1
0
#24 | M | GEDION ZELALEM SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
1
1
56
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
0
0
0
0
0
International
0
0
0
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
1
1
56
0
0
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 0 Fouls Committed 1, April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Fouls Suffered 0 Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Goal N/A Assist N/A 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-1 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-11 Weight: 155 Birthday: 1/26/1997 Hometown: Berlin, Germany Last Club: Arsenal FC (England) Acquired: Acquired from Arsenal FC on 3/11/2019 Sporting Kansas City announced that the club had acquired midfielder Gedion Zelalem in a transfer from English Premier League side Arsenal FC in March 2019. A dual citizen of Germany and the United States, Zelalem arrives in Kansas City after a six-year stint with Arsenal’s youth and senior teams. On the international stage, the holding midfielder represented Germany at the U-15 through U-17 levels before gaining U.S. citizenship in 2014 and competing for the United States U-20s and U-23s.
24, 2014. The following December, Zelalem earned his UEFA Champions League debut against Turkish giants Galatasaray. Zelalem had two loan stints with Rangers FC in Scotland and VVV Venlo in the Netherlands over the next two years. Zelalem most recently competed for the Arsenal U-23s, returning from an injury in November 2018.
Zelalem began his youth international career with Germany, reaching the U-17 level, but became a U.S. citizen in 2014. His first competitive action with the U.S. U-20 National Zelalem moved from the U.S. to London in early 2013 to join Arsenal’s prestigious Team came at the 2015 U-20 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand before gaining experience academy, rising from the U-16s to the U-21s in his first year with the Gunners. He was with the U.S. U-23s at the 2015 Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Championship. He later part of Arsenal’s senior squad during a July 2013 preseason tour of Asia and made his returned to the U-20 side for the 2016 Four Nations Tournament in England and the 2017 first-team debut as a substitute in Arsenal’s 4-0 FA Cup victory over Coventry City on Jan. U-20 World Cup in South Korea, but his involvement was cut short by a knee injury. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
1
1
56
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
MLS - TOTAL
1
1
56
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
24
Sporting KC Game Notes | April 11, 2019 vs. C.F. Monterrey | SportingKC.com/Game-Notes #1 | GK | ADRIAN ZENDEJAS | @MrZ3ND SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
1
1
90
0
0
MLS Postseason
0
0
0
0
0
U.S. Open Cup
2
2
180
0
0
International
1
1
90
0
0
ALL COMPETITIONS
4
4
360
0
0
Height: 6-5 Weight: 185 Hometown: Chula Vista, California Last Club: Swope Park Rangers (USL) Acquired: Signed on 12/2/2016
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed 1, April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Saves 3, April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Last Regular Season... Appearance April 7, 2019, KC at CIN Shutout N/A 2019 Record when: he starts 0-0-1
Birthday: 8/30/1995
Goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas signed an MLS contract for Sporting KC in December 2016 after playing for the Swope Park Rangers during the club’s inaugural 2016 campaign. He made his MLS debut on April 7, 2019 in a 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati. Zendejas spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons primarily on loan with the Swope Park Rangers, making 37 starts for the club and posting a 1.11 goals against average with 14 shutouts. Zendejas was one of the top goalkeepers in the USL, cementing his pedigree by saving four penalties and scoring the game-winning spot kick in the shootout of the Western Conference Final against OKC Energy FC in November 2017. Zendajas joined the Rangers in June 2016 and debuted in a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy II on Aug. 27 before
starting five of the team’s final seven regular season matches, amassing a perfect 5-0-0 record with three shutouts, 13 saves and a 0.40 goals against average. Zendejas carried his great form into the postseason, earning two more clean sheets as the Rangers rattled off three straight victories en route to the USL Cup Final. The Chula Vista, California native joined Club Tijuana in 2014 and made his debut for the Under-20 team in February 2015. He made 31 total appearances for the U-20 team while helping the Xolos reach the 2015 Apertura final and the 2016 Clausura final. He made his first-team debut in a preseason friendly against Club Leon on July 3, 2015 and played all four preseason games for the Xolos in July 2015.
MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
SHT
SVS
SO
GA
GAA
PG
PA
C
E
W
L
T
KC - Regular Season
1
1
90
4
3
0
1
1.00
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
MLS - TOTAL
1
1
90
4
3
0
1
1.00
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
#8 | M | GRAHAM ZUSI | @gzusi SPORTING KC STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
MLS Regular Season
256
216
19860
28
63
MLS Postseason
18
18
1739
0
6
U.S. Open Cup
17
15
1447
3
6
International
12
12
1050
0
3
ALL COMPETITIONS
303
261
24096
31
78
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, 3 times, last: Sept. 28, 2012, KC vs. CHI Assists 2, 7 times, last: July 14, 2018, KC at NY Shots on Goal 3, 5 times, last: Aug. 18, 2018, KC vs. POR Shots 6, May 15, 2016, KC vs. ORL Fouls Committed 4, 2 times, last: March 30, 2013, KC vs. MTL Fouls Suffered 6, Oct. 26, 2013, KC at PHI Last Regular Season... Appearance March 30, 2019, KC vs. MTL Goal April 15, 2018, KC vs. SEA Assist Oct. 28, 2018, KC vs. LAFC 2019 Record when: he starts 2-1-1 he scores 0-0-0
Height: 5-10 Weight: 160 Birthday: 8/18/1986 Hometown: Longwood, Florida College: Maryland Acquired: 2009 MLS SuperDraft 2nd Round (#23) A 10-year veteran for Sporting KC, Graham Zusi has garnered MLS All-Star (2012-15, 2017-18), MLS Best XI (2012-13) & MLS Breakout Player of the Year (2011) accolades in addition to receiving a 2012 MLS MVP nomination. He earned Sporting KC MVP honors from 2012-14 and is the only player to appear in every All-Star Game from 2011-2014.
reached 50 regular-season assists and later moved into first in club history with 24 game-winning assists on Aug. 19, 2017 versus FC Dallas.
Zusi has earned 55 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team since debuting in January 2012, recording five goals and seven assists. He played four matches at the 2014 FIFA Zusi re-signed with Sporting KC in late 2018. He has recorded 31 goals and 78 assists in World Cup, tallying two assists as the U.S. advanced out of the group stage. He played in 302 appearances for Sporting KC across all competitions since being drafted in 2009 out his first CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2015, starting two matches, and scored in a World Cup of the University of Maryland, where he won two national championships. He is second in qualifier against Guatemala on March 29, 2016. He played five games for the U.S. at the club history with 78 total assists, while his 410 chances created from 2011-2015 (including 2016 Copa America Centenario, scoring on June 7 in a 4-0 win over Costa Rica. He postseason) ranked third in MLS. With his assist against RSL on April 29, 2017, Zusi recently made four appearances as the U.S. won the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. MLS CAREER STATS
GP
GS
MIN
G
A
SHT
SOG
FC
FS
OFF
CK
C
E
GWG
GWA
KC - Regular Season
256
216
19860
28
63
389
125
205
299
31
791
22
1
8
27
KC - Postseason
18
18
1739
0
6
31
3
25
30
1
69
2
0
0
3
MLS - TOTAL
274
234
21599
28
69
420
128
230
329
32
860
24
1
8
30
25